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The streets of Singapore were quiet in the late hours of the night, but not for long. While most were asleep, officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) carried out an enforcement operation on 23 June 2026.
Police Life followed officers from Central Police Division during an enforcement operation at an public entertainment outlet.
Behind Closed Doors
At around 2320 hours, the first hit took place at an unassuming KTV outlet at Upper Cross Street.
We waited until officers had secured the premises before entering. The moment we stepped into the KTV outlet, the sharp smell of alcohol and stale air hit us. Officers were stationed at every exit, ensuring no one could slip away.
In the crowded corridor, the tense atmosphere was a stark contrast to the carefree space the venue was meant to be. By the time we stepped in, the room had already fallen silent – the night's festivities replaced by something far more sobering.
Inside one of the KTV rooms, several female subjects were being interviewed by officers.
We watched as officers commenced investigations into work permit and visa-related offences, checking the particulars of all the subjects.
After a thorough search of the premises, all the evidence – including personal belongings – was tagged and secured. The subjects were subsequently escorted by officers to a Police bus.
At this particular venue, 10 female subjects were arrested for suspected offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990.
Down the Road
The operation continued into the early hours of the morning as officers arrived at another public entertainment outlet near Cecil Street.
Following checks of the premises, 15 subjects were arrested for suspected offences under the Women’s Charter 1961, the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 and the Immigration Act 1959. Among them, a 21-year-old woman was also being investigated for voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from carrying out his duty under Section 332 of the Penal Code 1871.
The operation also uncovered other offences. Two women, aged 21 and 22, were each found in possession of an e-vaporiser, an offence under the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act 1993. In addition, one of the public entertainment outlets was found to have breached fire safety requirements under the Fire Safety Act 1993.
Safer Streets, Safer Nights
This enforcement operation is part of a series of island-wide multi-agency enforcement operations led by the SPF between 1 and 28 June 2026.
More than 5,600 officers from the seven Police Land Divisions, Criminal Investigation Department and Traffic Police, together with the CNB, SCDF, HSA and Land Transport Authority, conducted more than 1,300 operations.
In total, 1,776 persons, comprising 1,173 men and 603 women, aged between 15 and 85 are being investigated for various offences. These offences include those under the Penal Code 1871, Women’s Charter 1961 and Societies Act 1966, traffic violations, e-vaporiser-related offences, immigration violations and illegal employment offences.
“Public safety and security is a shared responsibility,” said Senior Assistant Commissioner Leon Chan, Director of the SPF Operations Department. “The Police, together with partner agencies across the Whole of Government, will continue to use coordinated and targeted enforcement actions to prevent, detect and deter crime. Those who choose to engage in criminal activity will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.”
