Over 340 people arrested in islandwide anti-crime blitz
By Dylan Loh
POSTED: 24 May 2013 9:58 PM
A police car in Singapore (photo: Francine Lim, channelnewsasia.com)
SINGAPORE: Singapore's law enforcement agencies arrested some 340 people in a four-day island-wide blitz which lasted from May 20 to 23.
About 200 men and 140 women were arrested in the string of operations.
The massive sweep saw some 190 people arrested for suspected involvement in loansharking offences.
Preliminary investigations revealed that they were believed to be loanshark runners and harassers, or have opened bank accounts and given away their Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) to loansharks to facilitate their unlicensed moneylending businesses, or have provided false contact information when obtaining loans from loansharks.
Targeted raids and checks were also conducted at public entertainment outlets, and public spaces in places like Geylang, Changi Village, Downtown Marina, Serangoon Road, South Bridge Road, Tampines and Aljunied.
Over 110 people were arrested for various drug, immigration and vice-related offences.
- CNA/ac