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  A series of targeted, multi-agency anti-drug operations led by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) resulted in the arrest of seven Bangladeshi men for suspected drug-related offenses. The operations, which took place from December 8 to 11, 2025, were conducted at various migrant worker dormitories across the island. The arrested men are aged between 20 and 40 years old. The enforcement actions were a joint effort demonstrating Singapore's sustained commitment to clamping down on illegal activities, including drug offenses and other crimes. The CNB was supported by officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Singapore Customs, and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Operations Breakdown The arrests were made across three distinct operations: Jurong West (December 8): In the evening of December 8, CNB officers arrested a 25-year-old Bangladeshi man at a dormitory in the vicinity of Jurong West for suspec...

  An American man, Jeffrey Alan Carreiro, 46, was charged with molesting a six-year-old girl in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 3 on December 9 at about 5 PM. Carreiro was subsequently ordered on December 11 to be remanded at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for a medical examination. Court documents allege that Carreiro kissed and touched the girl’s abdomen and lifted her trousers’ waistband to peer inside while she was sleeping on a bench next to her mother. The mother woke up, confronted Carreiro, and alerted the police when he walked away. Officers from the Airport Police Division used CCTV footage to establish his identity and successfully arrested him within just four hours of receiving the report. Carreiro's case will be mentioned again in court on December 23. If convicted of molesting a child under 14, he faces up to five years’ jail, a fine, or caning, or a combination of these.

  On December 1, 2025, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at Woodlands Checkpoint foiled an attempt to smuggle a significant haul of duty-unpaid cigarettes into Singapore. Acting on information from the Integrated Targeting Centre (ITC), ICA Search & Examination officers conducted enhanced checks on a Malaysia-registered car. They discovered over 370 cartons and 1,600 packets of duty-unpaid cigarettes concealed within modified compartments of the vehicle. A 44-year-old male Malaysian driver was arrested in connection with the smuggling case. The driver and the seized contraband were handed over to Singapore Customs for further investigation. The ICA stated its commitment to facilitating trade and travel while upholding the safety and security of Singapore’s borders.

  The Singapore Police Force (SPF) spearheaded a series of intensive, multi-agency enforcement operations between the late hours of December 3 and 6, 2025, aimed at clamping down on criminal activities across various locations. The operations were a collaborative effort, led by the Tanglin Police Division, and involved officers from several other law enforcement and regulatory bodies, including the Health Sciences Authority, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). This joint approach allowed for comprehensive checks targeting various illicit activities simultaneously. A single night of operations, specifically on December 3, 2025, saw officers hitting locations in both Whampoa and Orchard Road, resulting in the arrest of 37 individuals for suspected offenses such as illegal gambling and vice-related activities. Whampoa: Targeting Illegal Gambling In the Whampoa operation, officers focused on rooting ...

  The Police have successfully apprehended a 40-year-old male Chinese national for his suspected involvement in three separate housebreaking-related cases that occurred over a short span of time. Between December 7 and 8, 2025, the Police received alerts concerning three distinct housebreaking incidents at residential units across several locations: along Chuan Drive, Li Hwan Close, and in the vicinity of Sentosa Island. These areas span from the heartlands to one of Singapore’s most exclusive residential zones, suggesting a pattern of opportunistic or wide-ranging criminal activity. Officers from the Ang Mo Kio Police Division launched an intensive investigation immediately. Through extensive ground enquiries, coupled with crucial assistance from high-resolution images captured by both CCTV systems and Police cameras, investigators were able to successfully establish the identity of the man. The suspect was subsequently arrested on December 8, 2025. Preliminary investigations into...

  Singapore Customs announced a major victory against tax evasion on December 8, 2025, confirming the seizure of the largest inland haul of contraband cigarettes to date for the year. The operation, conducted over two days, resulted in the seizure of a total of 17,279 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes and a van, with the total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded exceeding $1.87 million. Four men, one Singaporean and three Indian nationals were arrested in connection with the large-scale smuggling activities. The enforcement operations were mounted on November 30 and December 1, 2025, at two separate locations: Pandan Loop and Jurong Port Road. The first operation took place on November 30, 2025, at an industrial building in Pandan Loop. Customs officers observed a Singapore-registered van reversing into a loading and unloading bay. Three men were seen loading brown boxes into the vehicle's cargo compartment. Officers quickly moved in, conducted a check, and initially uncov...

  A viral video from December 6, 2025, documented a failed daylight snatch theft in Johor Setia Indah. The footage showed a woman walking by the roadside when a motorcycle carrying two individuals approached. The passenger, acting as the thief, attempted to grab her handbag. The attempt caused the thief to fall from the motorcycle and the victim to fall to the floor. The thief fled on foot without the bag, while the motorcyclist immediately drove off. The driver of the recording vehicle played a role in deterring the thief by honking non-stop. The video's poster commented that the security situation in the area is "terrible," emphasizing that "robberies are happening in broad daylight." The incident highlights significant safety concerns for pedestrians and calls for increased security measures in the Johor Setia Indah locality.

  A distressing incident involving an aggressive passenger and a Grab driver in Malaysia has garnered attention following a viral social media post by the affected driver on December 4, 2025. The driver, who operates at night to earn extra income for his children’s schooling, detailed a violent encounter with an intoxicated customer that resulted in significant physical injury and damage to his vehicle. The incident began in the early hours of December 3, 2025, at approximately 12:40 AM. The driver picked up the customer, whom he described as a "Type C customer" and intoxicated, noting that he is accustomed to transporting drunk passengers as he typically drives only at night. Upon reaching the designated destination, the situation quickly escalated when the customer refused to exit the vehicle. The passenger made an immediate and unusual demand, stating he would only leave the car if the driver gave him 20 dollars. Complicating the matter, the driver had already lined up his...

  A migrant worker, Islam Mohammad Khabirul, a 34-year-old shipyard worker from Bangladesh, has failed in his appeal to the High Court against his conviction for making a fraudulent claim for work injury compensation. Khabirul was sentenced to 13 weeks’ jail after being found guilty on three charges: one for making the fraudulent claim and two for submitting false statements to a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) investigation officer. High Court judge Vincent Hoong dismissed Khabirul’s appeal on December 3. Khabirul, who was employed by a company called Vigour Technologies and worked on a vessel named Heerema Sleipnir at Sembcorp Marine Tuas Boulevard Yard, had maintained that his employer and co-workers conspired to implicate him, with the employer masterminding the conspiracy to cover up a genuine accident and avoid regulatory scrutiny regarding the accident. Justice Hoong rejected this argument, stating that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence to prove that Khabirul had been...

  The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced on Monday, December 1, 2025, that it will cease the Work Permit scheme for foreign performing artistes due to widespread abuse by syndicates. Consequently, the Ministry will stop accepting new applications to hire foreign workers under the Performing Artiste Work Permit scheme from June 1, 2026. The scheme, originally introduced in 2008, was intended to allow licensed public entertainment outlets, such as bars, hotels, and nightclubs, to hire foreign performing artistes of any nationality for short-term engagements lasting up to six months. However, recent enforcement operations carried out by the Ministry of Manpower in collaboration with the police uncovered substantial manipulation of the system. These operations revealed syndicates utilizing non-operating public entertainment outlets to fraudulently hire foreign performing artistes under the scheme. These foreign workers were subsequently released to work illegally at various other pub...

  A Swedish national, Alkallas Karam, aged 23, who was in Singapore on an exchange program, was recently sentenced to four weeks in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal trespass. The charges stemmed from an incident where he unlawfully entered the restricted premises of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2025 held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on October 4. The events began when Alkallas expressed to his friends on October 3 that the tickets for the annual event were prohibitively expensive. Despite this, he decided to attempt to gain unauthorized entry the following day. At approximately 7 PM on October 4, Alkallas arrived at Gate 1 of the Circuit Park area. He encountered a male volunteer, identified in court documents as B1, who was tasked with scanning entry tickets. Alkallas initially approached B1, claiming his ticket was with a friend, and B1 instructed him to wait. About 30 minutes later, Alkallas approached the volunteer again, reiterating that his fri...

  On December 1, 2025, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority reported that its officers at Tuas Checkpoint foiled a significant smuggling attempt on November 17, 2025. The operation involved a 55-year-old Singaporean man driving a Singapore-registered car. Officers directed the vehicle for enhanced checks, leading to the discovery of over 2,800 e-vaporisers and related components. The illegal items were found meticulously concealed within various compartments of the car, indicating a deliberate attempt to evade detection at the border. The prompt intervention by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority prevented a large quantity of prohibited goods from entering the country. The case was promptly referred to the Health Sciences Authority for detailed investigation into the illegal importation. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority emphasized that robust border security is a crucial aspect of its enforcement strategy against e-vaporisers, reiterating its commitment to...

  The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has arrested a 73-year-old Malaysian woman for her suspected involvement as a money mule in at least three cases of the Government Official Impersonation Scam (GOIS), in which scammers posed as officials from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The Scam and Modus Operandi The scam incidents occurred between October 8 and November 24, 2025. Impersonation: The scammers contacted victims, claiming to be officials from the "Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)". The Lie: Victims were falsely informed that their bank accounts were linked to money laundering activities or that their personal information had been compromised. Instruction to Victims: Victims were instructed to surrender their cash and valuables (including gold bars) to the scammers for the purported purpose of investigations. The Handover: Victims complied, meeting unknown individuals at various locations across Singapore to hand over the items. The victims realized they had...

  The Singapore Police Force (SPF) arrested a 23-year-old Italian man for his suspected involvement in a case of cheating after he allegedly used a counterfeit watch to acquire three genuine Rolex watches valued at approximately $90,000. The arrest was made swiftly at Changi Airport before the suspect could leave the country. The Cheating Incident The incident was reported on the evening of November 28, 2025: Time and Location: At about 7:30 pm, Police were alerted to a case of suspected cheating at a watch shop located along Bencoolen Street. Method: The man had allegedly engaged in a trade-in transaction with the retailer, exchanging a branded luxury watch for three genuine Rolex watches valued at about $90,000. Discovery: During subsequent authentication checks, the retailer discovered that the branded watch traded in by the man was counterfeit and immediately alerted the police. Swift Arrest and Recovery Officers from the Central Police Division launched immediate follow-up inv...

  The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced on November 28, 2025, that it has successfully intercepted two separate smuggling operations, leading to the seizure of illegal codeine cough syrup and prescription medicines with a combined street value of approximately $41,000. These swift enforcement actions prevented highly addictive controlled substances from reaching the illicit market in Singapore. Case 1: Illegal Cough Syrup in Bleach Bottles The first case involved the deceptive packaging and distribution of illegal cough syrup: Detection: On November 17, 2025, HSA was alerted by a courier company that had observed two suspicious crates at their facility. Concealment: The overseas shipments, intended for two separate addresses in Yishun, were deceptively labelled as a well-known household bleach but actually contained suspected codeine-based cough syrup. Seizure: HSA conducted simultaneous enforcement operations at both Yishun delivery addresses on the same day, seizing over ...

  The Land Transport Authority (LTA), supported by tip-offs from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association and National Taxi Association, recently arrested 15 drivers for providing illegal cross-border ride-hailing services. The drivers were apprehended at key locations, including the land checkpoints, Changi Airport, Arab Street, and Ban San Street, and all their vehicles were impounded. Drivers caught providing these illegal services face strict penalties, including fines of up to S$3,000, imprisonment for up to six months, and possible vehicle forfeiture. The LTA continues its enforcement efforts and urges the public to report any illegal ride-hailing services they spot via the government portal at go.gov.sg/report-illegal-rides .

  Twelve male foreign nationals were arrested for suspected drug-related offences in a comprehensive, overnight enforcement operation conducted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and multiple government agencies at a migrant worker dormitory in Woodlands. The extensive sweep, lasting more than four hours, began late Thursday (Nov 27) and continued into the early hours of Friday morning. The Operation and Arrests The operation was executed by officers from the CNB, in coordination with the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Suspects: The 12 arrested men include 11 Bangladeshis and one Myanmar national, aged between 23 and 40. Charges: One of the suspects, a 34-year-old Bangladeshi man, was arrested for suspected drug trafficking and drug consumption offences. Investigations for all arrested suspects are ongoing. The Scene: Officers searched multiple rooms containing six bu...

  Singapore Customs successfully concluded a significant enforcement operation, resulting in the arrest of four men and the seizure of a large quantity of duty-unpaid cigarettes and vehicles. The operation, conducted on November 13, 2025, at the Pasir Laba heavy vehicle carpark, targeted a ring involved in a massive tax evasion scheme. Details of the Seizure and Evasion During the operation, Customs officers conducted checks on a parked bowser (a type of tanker) and an adjacent forested area. They discovered that duty-unpaid cigarettes, allegedly smuggled from the bowser, were being packed into carton boxes. Contraband Seized: A total of 3,100 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were found concealed within the bowser and the forested area. Tax Evasion: The total duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) evaded on the seized cigarettes amounted to about $335,785. Vehicles Seized: Customs seized three vehicles involved in the operation: a prime mover with the bowser attached, a truck, and ...

  A 32-year-old man was arrested after a viral video showed him driving a Range Rover Velar on the Sungai Besi Highway on November 22 with a completely shredded rear tyre. The man surrendered to the KL Traffic police station on November 23 after the video, which showed him ignoring motorists' warnings and driving on the metal rim, went viral. The driver subsequently tested positive for ketamine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine but was negative for alcohol. The driver claimed his tyre burst after hitting a pothole and he chose to continue home. Authorities are now investigating the case under Section 45A for driving under the influence of drugs, and Section 42(1) of the Road Transport Act for reckless and dangerous driving.

  Singaporean Dev Ananth Durai , 39, is currently a wanted man in the United States, facing an arrest warrant issued by the District Court of Massachusetts in connection with an ongoing, complex international insider trading probe spanning from 2016 to 2024. Dev is the son of former National Kidney Foundation (NKF) CEO T.T. Durai. Allegations and Network Involvement Dev Ananth Durai is one of eight suspects against whom charges were filed in Boston on November 1. Prosecutors allege that he was a key participant in a transnational criminal network responsible for illicit insider trades and fund laundering. Timeline and Profit: Dev allegedly joined the group in 2018. In one instance, he reportedly boasted to an unnamed suspect (CC12, one of 12 Singapore-based individuals linked to the probe) that he made US $250,000 (S$ 327,000) in a single trade. The Syndicate: The criminal network was allegedly ring-led by French national Samy Khouadja , and included German national Emma Safi a...