SINGAPORE: Police arrested 16 persons and seized S$730,000 in cash in a 16-hour operation on Tuesday.

The suspects, aged between 29 and 45 years, are believed to be involved in an illegal soccer betting and loansharking syndicate.

During the island-wide operation, which covered Woodlands, Pasir Ris, Kim Seng, Bedok, Sims Avenue and Tanglin Halt, police also seized handphones, laptops, betting slips, debtor records, bank books, cheques and various storage devices such as hard disk drives and memory cards.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate members operated their illegal soccer bookmaking business via the Internet. Some members were also involved in illegal loansharking activities.

Three of the suspects were charged in court on Wednesday.

Anyone found guilty of acting as a bookie could be fined between S$20,000 and S$200,000, and jailed for up to five years.

Anyone convicted of running a business as an unlicensed moneylender could be fined up to S$200,000 or jailed for two years, or both.

Repeat offenders could face a higher jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to S$200,000.

- CNA/yt