Quick Read
- Singapore Police arrested 35 and are investigating 17 others (total 52) for illicit SIM card registration.
- The individuals, aged 16 to 65, allegedly provided SIM cards to criminal syndicates for monetary gain.
- Errant subscribers reportedly received $15-$20 per registered postpaid SIM card.
- These SIM cards were used for scams, unlicensed moneylending, and vice activities.
- Offenders face fines up to $10,000 or three years imprisonment, or both.
SINGAPORE (Azat TV) – Singaporean authorities have launched an island-wide enforcement operation, arresting 35 individuals and investigating 17 others, totaling 52 persons, for their suspected involvement in registering SIM cards that were subsequently used for illicit purposes by criminal syndicates. This significant crackdown, conducted between January 8 and 16, 2026, by the Singapore Police Force’s Anti-Scam Command and various Police Land Divisions, aims to disrupt a crucial communication channel exploited by perpetrators of scams, unlicensed moneylending, and vice activities across the city-state.
The enforcement action saw 22 men and 13 women, aged between 16 and 38, formally arrested. Additionally, ten men and seven women, aged between 16 and 65, are currently assisting with ongoing investigations. All 52 individuals are suspected of providing registered postpaid SIM cards to syndicates in exchange for monetary gains, according to official statements from the Singapore Police Force.
An Island-wide Enforcement Operation
The operation, spanning over a week, involved officers from the specialized Anti-Scam Command working in tandem with seven Police Land Divisions. This coordinated effort underscores the comprehensive approach taken by law enforcement to combat the misuse of telecommunications infrastructure for criminal activities. The focus was specifically on errant subscribers who registered postpaid SIM cards that were later traced back to various illicit schemes.
The Singapore Police Force has emphasized that the misuse of SIM cards serves as a critical conduit for a range of crimes, including sophisticated scams that defraud citizens, unlicensed moneylending operations that exploit vulnerable individuals, and vice activities. By targeting the registration process, authorities aim to sever a vital link in the operational chain of these criminal enterprises, making it harder for them to communicate anonymously and effectively.
The Modus Operandi of Illicit Registration
Preliminary investigations have shed light on the methods employed by these errant subscribers. It was revealed that individuals were allegedly offered cash rewards ranging from $15 to $20 for each registered SIM card. These subscribers were purportedly instructed by syndicates to sign up for and purchase SIM cards in bulk from various retailers. Subsequently, they would hand over a significant number of these registered SIM cards – typically between 30 and 69 – to couriers working for the criminal syndicates.
This scheme highlights a systematic exploitation of the telecommunications registration process, where individuals are enticed by relatively small sums of money to become unwitting or complicit facilitators of organized crime. The ease with which SIM cards can be acquired and then resold for illicit purposes presents a persistent challenge for law enforcement agencies globally.
Serious Consequences for Facilitating Crime
The Singapore Police Force has reiterated its firm stance against the misuse of SIM cards. Knowingly providing a registered SIM card to another person to facilitate a crime for any gain is a serious offense under Section 39B(1) read with 39B(2)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906. Individuals found guilty of this offense face severe penalties, including a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.
Authorities have issued a clear warning that they will not hesitate to take action against anyone who misuses their SIM cards through reselling, allowing others to use them, assisting in the registration for illicit purposes, or holding multiple SIM cards without a legitimate reason. This stern advisory aims to deter potential offenders and educate the public on the legal ramifications of such actions.
Broader Implications for Public Safety
This enforcement action is part of a broader strategy by Singaporean authorities to protect the public from the growing threat of cybercrime and other illicit activities facilitated by digital communications. By disrupting the supply of anonymously registered SIM cards, law enforcement aims to reduce the overall effectiveness of criminal syndicates, thereby enhancing public safety and security.
The Police encourage members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to SIM card misuse. Information can be submitted through the Police Hotline or their i-witness portal, with assurances that all information will be kept strictly confidential. Educational resources on preventing SIM card misuse are also available on the Singapore Police Force’s official website.
The coordinated operation by the Singapore Police Force underscores the evolving tactics of criminal syndicates, which increasingly rely on seemingly legitimate infrastructure like telecommunications to facilitate their illicit activities, compelling law enforcement to adapt its strategies to target not just the crimes themselves, but also the enabling mechanisms.