By Bryna Sim

IT WAS a rude awakening for culprits known for their thuggish behaviour.

Just as they would vandalise or threaten their victims under the cover of darkness, loan shark syndicate members got a taste of their own medicine when the police pounced on them in a 19-hour operation.

The raid started late Tuesday night and lasted into early Wednesday morning.

Two financiers (or "Towkays"), loan sharks ("Ah Longs"), runners, harassers and bank account holders were among those nabbed.

In all, 31 suspects, aged between 17 and 59 years old, were picked up for loan sharking activities.

This number includes five women.

It is the highest number of loan shark suspects arrested in a single operation since 2005. Both the oldestand youngest suspects were women. About 45 police officers descended on the syndicate membersat rented condominiums and HDB flats.

The raids were carried out at Punggol, Hougang, Eunos, Changi, Bedok North, Redhill, Serangoon, Sengkang, Woodlands, Bukit Batok, Rivervale, Buangkok, Bedok Reservoir, Commonwealth Drive, and Tampines.

"When police officers entered their homes, some were seen tallying accounts while others were on the phone," said Director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Senior Assistant Commissioner Ng Boon Gay.

CONFISCATED: Police seized S$550,000 worth of items (above) in the raid, including S$66,000 in cash (picture below), laptops, handphones, ATM cards and pre-paid top-up cards.

None of the syndicate members put up a struggle or tried to evade arrest. But most were shocked. Some members were busted at home, where they operated together with their wives. Superintendent Goh Lam Kiong, the assistant director of CID's specialised crime division, said that plainclothes police officers forced their way into the operating locations.

Surprise important

"The element of surprise must always be maintained," he explained.

Police also seized $550,000 worth of items, including more than $66,000 in cash, about 10 laptops, 20 handphones, five thumbdrives, about a dozen ATM cards and passbooks, suspected debtor records and pre-paid top-up cards.

Interestingly, one of the handphones rang incessantly during the press conference. The electronic gadgets seized may "sometimes contain relevant evidence such as debtor records or other data", said police.

Police believe two major syndicates have been thoroughly smashed in the operation.

Said Senior Assistant Commissioner Ng: "This has only been possible after months of hard work. We have this to add: Borrowers, go through legal means instead.

"Runners, don't think you can get away. Loan sharks, we will get you and punish you severely, by smashing as many syndicates as we can."

brynasim@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The New Paper.