21 Men Arrested for Child Sexual Exploitation in 435-Person Cross-Border Police Operation

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) arrested 21 men, aged between 23 and 61, for suspected involvement in child sexual exploitation activities during a cross-border operation that took place between 24 February 2025 and 28 March 2025.

The operation was carried out in collaboration with five other police forces across Asia: the Hong Kong Police Force, the Japan National Police Agency, the Korean National Police Agency, the Royal Malaysia Police, and the Royal Thai Police.

The five-week operation resulted in the arrest of 435 individuals across six Asian countries, with another 109 persons assisting with police investigations.

In total, 525 men and 19 women, between the ages of 13 and 68, were involved.

Officers conducted raids at 269 locations in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and Thailand.

During these raids, authorities seized numerous electronic devices, including 84 computers, 279 handphones, 32 tablets, 150 storage devices, and nine routers. Also seized were child sexual abuse materials created using Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

Among the 21 men arrested in Singapore, 11 have been referred to the Home Team Community Assistance and Referral Scheme (HT CARES), where social workers will conduct social triaging and assess whether further intervention is needed.

Serious Offences Including Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Distribution of Abuse Materials

The arrested men in Singapore face a host of serious charges, including producing, possessing, gaining access and distributing child sexual abuse materials; sexual assault involving penetration; threatening to distribute intimate images or recordings; sexual communication with minors; and transmission and sale of obscene materials.

They are also under investigation for possession of obscene films under Section 30 of the Films Act 1981.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a 43-year-old man allegedly paid a young female victim over several years in exchange for live-streamed sexual acts.

In another case, a 24-year-old man allegedly engaged in sexual communication with a young female victim, exchanged intimate photographs with her, and threatened to publish her photographs online if she refused to share more intimate materials.

Both victims are foreigners based overseas, according to police investigations.

The SPF stated that Singapore takes “a serious view” of child sexual exploitation and abuse, and will “spare no effort” to protect children from such harm.

The police added that those found engaging in such activities would be “dealt firmly in accordance with the law”.

Under the Penal Code, offenders convicted of producing, possessing, accessing, and distributing child sexual abuse materials face jail terms of up to seven years, a fine, or caning.

For non-consensual sexual assault involving penetration of a person below 14 years of age, offenders face up to 20 years in jail, a fine, or caning.

Threatening to distribute intimate images or recordings carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or caning.

This penalty applies regardless of the victim’s age, but if the victim is below 14 years, the offender shall also be liable to a fine or caning upon conviction.

Sexual communication with a minor below 16 years to obtain sexual gratification can result in up to three years in jail, a fine, or both if the victim is below 14 years. Transmission and sale of obscene materials can lead to imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.