Singapore Police Having Great Success Against Loansharking

Police have arrested another 2 males and 2 females, aged between 20 and 41 years old, for suspected involvement in syndicated loansharking activities in an operation conducted on 21 July 2009. This

Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department raided various locations including Boon Keng Road, Geylang and Pasir Ris estate to round up the subjects. In the course of the operation, items including mobile phones, prepaid SIM cards and harassment paraphernalia were seized. Police also found replica firearms and bullets on one of the subjects.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the four subjects are responsible for loanshark-related harassment cases that involved setting fire outside HDB units. The syndicate is believed to be behind more than 600 harassment reports related to illegal loans. It is believed that one of the subjects is also involved in harassment cases where replica bullets were sent to the victims.

Preliminary investigations also indicate that the subjects had assisted the loanshark syndicate to collect repayments through electronic fund transfers, commit harassment in connection with loans, and obtain prepaid SIM cards and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards for the syndicate's use to facilitate the illicit business. Three of the subjects will be charged in court on 23 July 2009 for offences under the Moneylenders' Act 2008. Investigation is ongoing for the remaining subject.

Comment:

• "Contact Us Information", for the Singapore Police Force to obtain further information on fighting loansharking. Their investigators may just have some pointers you haven't thought of yet.
  

Sources:

• "Police Smash Another Loanshark Syndicate–4 Arrested", Singapore Police Force, 7/22/09.
• "Tip off leads to arrest of Loansharking Trio", Singapore Police Force, 7/21/09.
• "Continued Enforcement Efforts on Loanshark Activities-Six Youths Arrested", Singapore Police Force, 7/17/09.
• "Loanshark Operator Arrested", Singapore Police Force, 7/15/09.
• "Two Youth Loanshark Runners Arrested", Singapore Police Force, 7/15/09.
• "Two Youths Arrested For Suspected Involvement in Loansharking Activities", Singapore Police Force, 7/14/09.