Police use drones to support anti-vice raid in Little India, 6 men dressed as women arrested
Drones with thermal imaging sensors were deployed by police to support an anti-vice raid conducted at shophouses and commercial units in Little India on Nov 30.
As a team of officers breached the shophouse's door, four drone pilots from the Aerial Response Team operated two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from above.
The UAVs had thermal imaging sensors to detect heat signatures, so officers could see if any suspects tried to flee from the rooftops.
The deployment of drones in this raid was proven effective in complementing such urban operations, said the police.
Seven men, aged between 23 and 61, were arrested for suspected vice activities. Six of them were dressed in women's clothing, reported The Straits Times.
One man, believed to be a caretaker, was arrested for employing foreign employees without a valid work pass. The six other men were arrested for working without a valid work pass.
All seven were whisked away in a police vehicle.
The raid was part of a six-day multi-agency operation targeting 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.
The operation was led by Central Police Division and supported by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, the Traffic Police, Central Narcotics Bureau and Singapore Civil Defence Force.
A total of 54 men and 140 women, aged between 18 and 72, were arrested between Nov 25 and 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.
In 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 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.
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 drug offences.
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.
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