16-year-old among 1,688 people investigated in largest anti-crime blitz since pandemic

SINGAPORE – The lights at a dimly lit Thai disco in Orchard Plaza suddenly came on and the music stopped, catching its patrons and staff by surprise as the authorities raided the venue.

There was a hint of a sweet aroma in the air, and a Health Sciences Authority (HSA) officer questioned three women in a VIP room.

An e-vaporiser was on their table. It wasn’t theirs, they claimed. The HSA officer took down their particulars anyway.

The midnight raid last Friday, which the media was allowed to witness, was just one of more than 300 operations the authorities conducted over five weeks, targeting illegal and criminal activities.

The raids between June 16 and July 23 saw 1,688 people – 1,080 men and 608 women aged between 16 and 82 – being investigated for various offences.

The police declined to say what offence the 16-year-old had allegedly committed.

This was the largest…