Police use thermal-imaging drones at raid of Little India shophouse, 7 arrested for suspected vice activities

Seven people, aged 23 to 61, were arrested for suspected vice activities at Little India on Nov. 30.

Six of them were found to have been working without a permit.

They were arrested in a three-storey shophouse that contained multiple rooms, apparently for servicing clients.

These rooms had beds, lotions and tissues, as well as posters relating to condom use and safe sex.

The shophouse also had also rooms where the arrested individuals lived in.

The police told Mothership that customers would allegedly enter from the back door and communicate with the individuals to solicit their business.

The police did not mention the nature of the services that were provided to clients.

Drones used during operation to secure exits around shophouse

Drones were also used during the operation to aid in the arrest of the individuals.

According to the police, different types of drones are used for different operations and this is dependent on factors such as terrain.

For this particular operation, the drones used were selected for their small size, low visibility and the fact they were inaudible at a certain height above ground.

The drones were flown from the rooftop of a nearby undisclosed building.

The police said the drones have thermal imaging technology, which was used to scan the building and track the position of the suspects.

The information provided by the drones was then used to secure potential points of entry or exit around the shophouse.

The police added that apart from securing entrances and exits, drones have also been used in search and rescue operations, as well as manhunt operations.

Part of a wider six-day operation that saw the arrest of 194 people

The operation at Little India was part of a wider six-day operation that targeted illicit activities at various massage establishments, public entertainment outlets, private residences and hotels located in the vicinity of Chinatown, Little India, Boat Quay and Bugis.

A total of 54 men and 140 women, aged between 18 and 72, were arrested in the operation, which was carried from Nov. 25 to Nov. 30.

These 194 individuals are being investigated for various offences including working without a valid work permit, suspected consumption and possession of controlled drugs, possession of offensive weapons and offences under the Women’s Charter.

Another man and three women, aged between 16 and 20, are being investigated for their suspected involvement in forgery and cheating by personation offences.

What were some of the other cases?

During a series of checks conducted at public entertainment hotspots, two outlets were found to have breached their liquor licensing conditions after underaged persons were found consuming liquor in their licensed premises.

Four persons were also found to have digitally doctored their identification on their mobile devices or produced identification not belonging to them and are being investigated for forgery and cheating by personation.

Four other men, aged between 18 and 30, were arrested for being members of an unlawful society.

In addition, five public entertainment outlets were found to have contravened their public entertainment licencing conditions.

One outlet was found to have exceeded its permitted occupancy load, while four others were found to have fire safety violations.

In another series of raids at hotels, four men, aged between 37 and 43, were arrested for offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Suspected controlled drugs and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the hotel rooms that were raided.

One of the men is also being investigated for possession of offensive weapons.

The operation was led by Central Police Division and supported by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, the Traffic Police, Central Narcotics Bureau, and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Left image by police, right photo by Mothership