Police in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea arrest 272 suspects in joint operation targeting child porn

SINGAPORE: Police in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea have arrested 272 people in a joint operation targeting child pornography and sexual exploitation.

The suspects, aged between 12 and 73, were arrested during a five-week operation from Feb 26 to Mar 29, during which authorities raided a total of 236 locations.

In Singapore, 28 people were arrested for various alleged offences such as distributing child abuse materials, sexual communication with a minor and the sale of obscene materials. 

The suspects were aged between 18 and 59, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a media release on Friday (Apr 5). 

“Among the arrested were a seller and his seven buyers of child abuse materials in Singapore,” SPF added.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the men obtained child abuse materials through messaging platforms.”

Dozens of electronic devices were seized at 44 locations in Singapore. The items included 50 computers, 39 mobile phones and 91 storage devices, SPF said.