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The Singapore Police Force (SPF) collaborated with the Hong Kong Police Force, Japan National Police Agency (JNPA), Korean National Police Agency, Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), Royal Thai Police (RTP) and Royal Brunei Police Force in an operation against Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE) across Asia. Conducted between 23 March and 17 April 2026, the operation led to 326 arrests and 119 individuals being placed under investigation (comprising 430 men and 15 women aged between 12 and 72).
A Coordinated Effort Across Borders
Over four weeks, officers from the Specialised Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the six police forces conducted simultaneous raids at 382 locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Brunei. Hundreds of electronic devices were seized – including 116 computers, 340 mobile phones, 25 tablets, 140 storage devices and 16 routers – along with child sexual abuse and obscene materials.
As OCSE activities are often enabled by digital platforms and cross-border financial channels, the SPF worked closely with technology companies, financial institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to detect, disrupt and prevent such offences.
Enforcement Efforts in Singapore
CID officers arrested 11 men, aged between 22 and 44, with 16 others assisting investigations for their suspected involvement in various offences related to child sexual exploitation. Investigations revealed that eight of these individuals had knowingly accessed, downloaded and possessed child sexual abuse materials through online messaging platforms and peer-to-peer services.
In one case, close cooperation with the RMP led to the identification of two individuals in Singapore, aged 26 and 28, who had allegedly made cross-border payments to access obscene materials through a Telegram channel.
Another case that was referred by an NGO involved two victims who had been sexually exploited by a foreign offender through an online platform. Through coordinated efforts with foreign law enforcement partners, the foreign offender was identified and arrested on 27 March 2026.
Devices seized contained materials involving the victims, as well as images of another potential victim. Investigations are ongoing.
Standing Firm Against Child Sexual Exploitation
Deputy Commissioner (Investigation & Intelligence) Zhang Weihan commended the officers involved for their professionalism and tenacity in the operation, and emphasised the critical role of partnerships in tackling OCSE: “By bringing together law enforcement efforts and private sector capabilities, we can intervene swiftly to identify and arrest offenders as well as better protect children.”The SPF is committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation and will take firm action against offenders in accordance with the law. Members of the public who encounter any suspicious online activity are urged to report it to the Police.
