Singapore

People

Human trafficking remains a widespread problem in Singapore, particularly in the construction, mining and domestic work industries, where labour exploitation practices are prevalent. Vulnerable individuals are often smuggled into Singapore to supplement the country’s workforce needs, and traffickers use various methods to coerce victims into sex or labour exploitation. These methods include withholding pay, threatening forced repatriation and subjecting victims to physical and sexual abuse. Foreign workers from South East Asian countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines, are particularly vulnerable. There is also a risk of organ trafficking in Singapore, with transnational organized crime groups attracted to the high demand.

The COVID-19 pandemic, law enforcement efforts and increased public awareness have led to a decrease in the number of human smuggling cases recorded in Singapore. The use of technology has enabled law enforcement officers to detect possible smuggling more effectively, and other related immigration offences. However, human smuggling continues to exist, with errant employers failing to conduct proper checks before employing or renting premises to smuggled individuals.

Cases of extortion and protection racketeering are rare in Singapore.

Trade

Singapore has a limited arms trafficking market due to strict gun control laws, a small population and a high degree of public safety. However, trafficked firearms presumably pass through the country’s waters because of its strategic role in facilitating maritime commerce.

Counterfeit goods are sold in Singapore, with criminal syndicates taking advantage of the country’s status as a major trans-shipment hub and free trade zone to smuggle illicit cargo with reduced customs controls. The online sale of counterfeit products is also increasing, particularly on messaging apps. Singaporean authorities have apprehended numerous individuals involved in the trade of counterfeit goods, seizing trademark-infringing items like watches, fashion eyewear and electronic devices. Criminal networks have also taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to produce and sell counterfeit medicines, masks, vaccines and pesticides on social media platforms and the dark web. Despite these challenges, Singapore’s strong intellectual property rights regime and enforcement practices have helped to contain the problem and make brand owners more willing to invest resources in enforcing their rights.

The limited illicit trade of excise goods in Singapore, particularly cigarettes and alcohol, is commonly conducted through e-commerce platforms at prices half of those legally sold. Authorities frequently apprehend local individuals who are part of loosely organized criminal groups involved in the illicit trade, with people from Malaysia, Indonesia and China also being arrested. Although there are no official figures on the size of the illicit tobacco market in Singapore, it is believed to have significantly decreased over the past few years. Neighbouring countries, like Malaysia, have seen an increase in this type of criminality, suggesting that the illicit tobacco trade may have shifted to less controlled jurisdictions. Those who engage in the illicit trade of excise goods in Singapore face hefty fines and prison sentences.

Environment

As a major logistics hub, Singapore also serves as a transit route for timber, including protected rosewood species, from both within Asia and Africa. Singapore-based firms have been linked to illegal logging activities outside the country, particularly in Myanmar and Indonesia. Banks in the country are also linked to transactions for trade in illegal timber, notably Myanmar teak. Furthermore, Singapore is a hub for wildlife trafficking due to its location and connectivity in South East Asia. The most trafficked species include birds, reptiles, ivory, rhino horn and pangolin. Singapore has increased both penal and fiscal penalties to address this issue, but seizures rarely result in prosecutions. As the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in illegal wildlife trade activities in South East Asia, traffickers shifted to online platforms to reach potential buyers. Singapore has also seen an increase in the domestic illegal wildlife trade in animal parts and exotic pets. While there are no known organized crime groups with links to Singapore for wildlife trafficking, foreign organized crime groups use the country as a transit hub.

With regards to the non-renewable resource crimes market, there is a potential risk of Singapore becoming a destination country for illegal sand mining, given its reliance on sand for construction and land reclamation projects. Proximity to Myanmar and Cambodia, key source countries of illegal sand for the region, makes Singapore vulnerable to this crime. Additionally, there are reports of stolen fuel schemes.

Drugs

Despite Singapore’s strict drug control policies, heroin trafficking has increased in the past two years. While Singapore does not produce heroin, it is a commonly used drug in the country. Border closures due to COVID-19 have led to an increase in heroin trafficking by sea routes. The pandemic has also caused traffickers and users to turn to online platforms, social media and the dark web to bypass physical restrictions. However, heroin shortages have also prompted users to switch to fentanyl and its derivatives. Cocaine is not widely used in Singapore, but it is popular among the wealthy elite as a party drug, with an increasing number of individuals seeking treatment for cocaine addiction each year.

Cannabis seizures in Singapore have surged in recent years, as it remains one of the most used drugs, particularly among younger Singaporeans. However, the changing perceptions of cannabis use in Singapore raise questions about the future of the criminal cannabis trade, medicinal cannabis restrictions and decriminalization for recreational and medicinal purposes.

Singapore is also battling the trafficking and usage of synthetic drugs, especially methamphetamine, with an increase in seizures of the drug in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to new ways for drug traffickers to exploit border closures, including using drones to import drugs and increasing the use of online messaging and payment apps for drug transactions.

Cyber Crimes

Singapore has experienced a surge in cyber-dependent crimes, including an exponential increase in ransomware cases. Small and medium-sized enterprises in sectors such as manufacturing, retail and healthcare have reported the majority of cases, with scammers impersonating business partners, colleagues or suppliers using hacked or spoofed emails. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a key factor in the increase in online threats, with cybercriminals taking advantage of the lockdown and related restrictions. Singaporean authorities have warned about hacking groups that have targeted various companies, using the double extortion model where attackers first steal sensitive data and then threaten to make it public if the ransom demand is not paid. Despite the increase in cybercrime, Singapore is a leading country in cybersecurity and combatting cyber threats. The government is heavily involved in mitigating such attacks by leading investigations and alerting the public and private sectors to potential threats.

Financial Crimes

Singapore is a major financial hub and is at high risk of financial crimes such as embezzlement, investment fraud schemes, scams and other cyber-enabled financial crimes. Although such crimes are prevalent, law enforcement agencies in Singapore are highly effective in targeting, investigating and stopping them. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore has experienced a surge in high-profile scams, including investment scams and those involving the impersonation of officials for capital. Phishing and tech support scams have also caught the attention of the authorities. The police have conducted numerous law enforcement operations resulting in the arrest of thousands of money mules and scammers, as well as the dismantling of numerous scam syndicates. Many of the money mules and scammers are under 30 and lured by the promise of easy money on gambling websites and advertisements on social media. Singapore authorities have also received reports of fraudulent applications for COVID-19 government grants and payouts.

Criminal Actors

Currently, law enforcement authorities in Singapore have largely eliminated the mafia-style groups represented by secret societies and triads. However, these groups have developed into loosely organized street gangs with adolescent members who move between different groups. As a result, loose criminal networks are now the main criminal actors in the country, and they have been linked to the increase in reported crimes in recent years. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These networks are usually involved in drug trafficking, financial crimes, scams, unlicensed moneylending, illegal gambling and cyber-attacks. Although physical crimes like theft and housebreaking have declined, online scams are on the rise, with the total amount of losses reaching a record high in 2021.

Foreign criminal actors continue to operate in Singapore with moderate influence, and almost all of them are involved in immigration-related crimes, money laundering, fake gambling platforms, sexual services, sextortion, the impersonation of government officials and scams related to investments, employment and loans. Private sector actors in Singapore have been involved in crimes such as corruption, embezzlement, financial crimes and the illicit trade in excise goods. However, these instances of criminal activity are rarely linked to organized crime. In recent years, there have been cases of investment fraud schemes and the misappropriation of funds by individuals working in the banking sector. These incidents involved large sums of money and resulted in the imprisonment of the perpetrators. While there have been major incidents involving private sector actors, their impact on society is limited and manageable due to Singapore’s strict enforcement measures. In relation to state-embedded criminal actors, the number of registered public sector corruption cases remained low in recent years, indicating little involvement of officials in criminal activities.

Leadership and governance

Singapore is renowned for having one of the world’s most stable governments, with a strong stance against crime and minimal indication of criminal influence on state institutions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, public perception and trust in Singapore’s key institutions has improved, reaching a decade-long high in 2021. Singapore’s law enforcement agencies are world-class, with a high-quality judiciary and transparently enforced laws. The government’s political rhetoric is translated into policies and implementation, with adequate funding allocated during annual budgetary exercises. Organized crime and public safety are not political campaign issues in Singapore, as they are not a matter of concern.

There is no corruption currently reported among state actors in Singapore and the country has not been involved in any internal or external conflicts in the last 10 years. Singapore is recognized for its high level of transparency and accountability in government operations. The anti-corruption agency operates independently from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and has received the fewest reports of corruption in the last five years, with most of the cases registered for investigation related to private sector corruption. To ensure accountability to its citizens, the government uses transparent mechanisms, such as parliamentary debates, to control its spending. However, there have been recent allegations of nepotism and cronyism surrounding the executive, and possible irregularities were flagged in records provided by public agencies for audit.

Singapore places a high priority on international cooperation in fighting organized crime. The government has signed several bilateral agreements in recent years, such as a bilateral extradition agreement with Indonesia and a legal assistance agreement with France. Singapore has also established partnerships with the US, UK and India to strengthen their cooperation on cybersecurity and transnational crime. Singapore continuously updates its national policies and laws to combat illegal markets and organized criminal groups. The Organized Crime Act imposes harsh penalties on locally linked organized crime groups and those who have provided them with material or financial assistance. New legislation has been passed to tackle various criminal markets, such as wildlife trading, drug trafficking, cybercrime, financial crime and illegal gambling. The government has also opened a new Centre for Wildlife Forensics, deployed sniffer dogs at border checkpoints and has imposed a total ban on the domestic ivory trade and selling of ivory and ivory products. It has also amended policies to address the rise of designer drugs.

Criminal justice and security

Singapore is widely recognized for its adherence to the rule of law. The country’s judiciary system operates independently and efficiently, and its Organized Crime Act empowers law enforcement agencies and the public prosecutor with additional legal powers to combat organized crime. In 2021, Singapore’s recidivism rate declined, thanks to the Singapore Prison Service’s adoption of a ‘throughcare’ approach towards inmate rehabilitation, which involves providing vocational training and support programmes to help those convicted find jobs after their release. Institutions have helped almost all inmates secure jobs in areas such as administrative and support services, food services, and wholesale and retail trade services. However, the use of the death penalty for drug-related offences in Singapore is still a matter of concern for the international community.

To combat crime, the SPF has employed innovative methods such as robotics in training, drones for detecting criminal activities, and forging partnerships with the wider community through the Community Watch Scheme. Community policing has evolved to include educating the elderly about online scams, which have been at a record high in recent years. Proactive policing is another successful law enforcement approach employed by Singapore, with this aiming to deprive criminals of the necessary capital to develop and maintain illicit markets. Additionally, law enforcement agencies have implemented new measures such as forming an anti-scam division, using cutting-edge technology and establishing a new cyber defense military branch to combat cybercrime.

Regarding territorial integrity, Singapore does not face major threats due to its small territory and effective law enforcement. Authorities continue their efforts to transform immigration and cargo clearance, moving towards the New Clearance Concept vision by equipping all immigration lanes with iris and facial scanners, providing more robust and reliable identity authentication of travellers, and more efficient immigration clearance.

Economic and financial environment

The government of Singapore has adopted a comprehensive whole-of-government approach to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Every government agency is involved in this initiative. Financial institutions in Singapore are required to have robust controls to detect and deter the flow of illicit funds. These controls include risk assessment and mitigation, customer due diligence and reporting suspicious transactions. The Financial Intelligence Unit is well-resourced, and investigators have increased their scrutiny of shell companies to uncover money laundering schemes.

In terms of the economic environment, Singapore is highly innovative and a global hub for business. It ranks among the freest economies in the world and has a transparent tax regime, high compliance with global standards and strong intellectual property protection. The government has also been rated highly in its capacity to provide a stable policy framework. In 2022, the government introduced additional measures to prevent and detect scams, as well as policies to protect e-commerce marketplaces.

Civil society and social protection

Singapore has implemented various measures to provide support for vulnerable witnesses and victims of crime. The government has established a specialized police command to assist victims of sexual crime and family violence, and several community partnerships exist with organizations that provide support and treatment programmes for various forms of addiction. On drugs, for example, in addition to a strict legislation, the government has introduced policies to help rehabilitate first- and second-time drug users. Legal measures have been put in place, such as the issuance of gag orders and mandatory in-camera court proceedings to protect the identities of victims and informers. However, some organizations argue that high thresholds for crimes to qualify as trafficking cases, as well as the associated policies in place, suggest a lack of understanding of trafficking indicators, hampering proper victim identification. Foreign human trafficking victims are also asked to leave the country after proceedings without ongoing internal support. Furthermore, a culture of victim-blaming persists in Singapore, which disrupts the process of victims seeking justice and healing after sexual assault and abuse. Nonetheless, the Singaporean government continues to fund and support NGOs that provide victim support services, and frontline workers and law enforcement agents receive new training on human trafficking detection as part of resilience-building measures.

The Singaporean government is continually updating its policies to prevent criminal activities, including smuggling, human trafficking, wildlife crimes, drug-related offenses, financial crimes and cybercrimes. These preventative measures rely heavily on technology, such as cutting-edge authentication systems for border security and apps that use artificial intelligence to identify and filter out scam messages. The government has also implemented financial audits and harsher penalties for wildlife crimes, added new psychoactive substances to their controlled drug list and launched campaigns to raise awareness and strengthen cybersecurity in the country. While Singapore does not have overarching whistleblowing legislation, some contains safeguards for the protection of informers. Enforcement agencies regularly conduct operations to detect and deter illegal labour and vice activities.

Singapore has several non-state actors that work with the government to drive a range of activities related to safety, security and combatting crime. These include a wide variety of organizations, as well as chambers of commerce that assist with global trade partnerships. However, Singapore has received criticism for its laws that restrict freedom of speech. Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, which allows a single government minister to declare information online as false and order its correction or removal, has been invoked several times, mainly against those who criticize the government or its policies. Other laws regarding foreign interference have also been criticized by human rights activists, journalists, academics and legal practitioners for giving the government sweeping powers to target online dissent.