Police nab 12 Chinese nationals in Bukit Timah GCB gambling den; 62 arrested in islandwide crime blitz

SINGAPORE:  The Singapore Police Force has arrested 62 individuals  in an islandwide raid targeting illegal gambling and unlicensed massage parlours across six locations, including Bukit Timah, Toa Payoh, Novena, Orchard Road, Balestier Road, and Selegie Road.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, the crackdown, conducted between 5 and 8 March, involved officers from the Tanglin Police Division, the Housing and Development Board (HDB), and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Gambling Den in Good Class Bungalow

One of the key operations took place in the early hours of 7 March when officers raided a gambling den housed within a luxurious Good Class Bungalow (GCB) in Jalan Kampong Chantek, Bukit Timah.

Upon entering the premises at 1am, police found 12 individuals, primarily Chinese nationals, gathered around a table playing “tong jiu (筒九),” a gambling game involving mahjong tiles. It is reported that the minimum bet for each game was as high as S$10,000.

The raid also uncovered a significant amount of alcohol and tobacco products, with more than 30 bottles of liquor—including at least 15 bottles of Moutai, a Chinese liquor valued between S$500 and S$600 per bottle—displayed on shelves. Cans of beer and cigarette packets were strewn around the room.

Zaobao reported that the bungalow was rented by a tenant who allegedly operated the gambling den and the properties in the area are worth between $10 million and $20 million.

During the raid, officers seized mobile phones and gambling-related paraphernalia.

An ambulance was dispatched to the scene at around 2.30am to transport a woman in her 20s to the hospital after she reported feeling unwell.

Under the Common Gaming Houses Act, individuals convicted of operating a common gaming house face fines between S$5,000 and S$50,000 and up to three years in jail.

Those found guilty of gambling in such premises could be fined up to S$5,000 or sentenced to a maximum of six months’ imprisonment, or both.

Mahjong Den in Toa Payoh HDB flat

Earlier on the same night, police raided a four-room HDB flat in Toa Payoh Lorong 8, allegedly used as a mahjong gambling den advertised on social media.

A middle-aged woman, believed to be the homeowner, was accused of hosting gambling sessions in one of the bedrooms, charging players an entrance fee and an additional S$15 service charge.

At around midnight, as officers carried out investigations, the woman was questioned while her husband and daughter sat in the kitchen.

Two players—a man and a woman—were also giving statements to the police. In total, three women and two men, all Singaporeans, were arrested at the location.

Enforcement Actions at Other Locations

The series of raids also targeted illegal massage parlours and entertainment outlets.

On 5 March, police conducted operations at massage parlours and commercial units in Toa Payoh, Balestier Road, and Orchard Road. Twenty women, aged between 18 and 48, were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter Act and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

Between 7 and 8 March, additional raids in Toa Payoh resulted in the arrest of six men and two women for illegal gambling activities. Authorities seized over S$3,900 in cash and various gambling-related items.

Police also conducted enforcement checks at KTV outlets in Selegie Road, arresting six women aged between 22 and 32 for violating the Women’s Charter Act and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

The 62 individuals arrested—29 men and 33 women, aged between 18 and 73—are currently under investigation for offences related to illegal gambling and unlicensed businesses.