55 people, aged between 14 and 73, investigated for various offences

A total of 55 men and women, aged between 15 and 73, are being investigated by the police for various offences.

This comes after a series of multi-agency enforcement operations conducted between May 26 and June 15. The operations were led by Bedok Police Division and supported by officers from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

In a joint enforcement operation at Bedok Central on June 10, 12 men and one woman, aged between 41 and 63, were arrested for their suspected involvement in unlawful conduct of betting operations, gaming or lotteries under Section 18(3) of Gambling Control Act 2022.

Another 13 men and two women, aged between 14 and 35, were investigated for their suspected involvement in gambling with unlicensed gambling service provider or at unlawful gambling place under Section 20(1)(a) of Gambling Control Act 2022.

Officers also conducted raids at massage establishments where three massage establishments were found to have purportedly carried on business of providing massage services in establishment for massage without licence under Section 5(4) of the Massage Establishment Act 2017.

A 33-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a place of assignation under Section 147(1A) of Women Charter 1961.

Officers also coordinated joint operations with HSA to conduct checks at Geylang, where more than 17,000 units of unregistered health products consisting of cough syrup and various sexual enhancement medicines worth over $7,000 were seized.

One man was investigated for allegedly supplying unregistered health products under Section 15(1) of Health Products Act 2007.

During the enhanced operations, the police also stepped up anti-crime patrols and roadblocks where a vehicle with improvised drug apparatus was detected and two men were apprehended.

A 36-year-old man and a 37-year-old man were arrested for suspected drug-related offences. The younger man was allegedly found to be in possession of 12 vape devices and 43 boxes of vape pods, which is an offence under Section 16(3)(a) Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act.

Commander of Bedok Police Division and assistant commissioner of police Justin Wong expressed his appreciation to all the agencies involved for their strong support. He also commended the officers for their professionalism and excellent teamwork during the operations.

The police said have zero tolerance towards illicit activities that threaten the public safety, peace and good order of the community.

They added: "The police will continue to work closely with the relevant agencies and take enforcement action at public entertainment outlets to suppress vice and other illicit activities at the various nightlife establishments and popular congregation hotspots."