SINGAPORE - Eight men have been arrested in an islandwide operation for suspected involvement in an illegal football betting syndicate.

The suspects, aged between 28 and 48, were apprehended on Tuesday and Wednesday after officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Intelligence Department (PID) carried out sweeping operations in several areas.

These included Clementi West, Jelapang Road, Tampines, Bedok Central, Jalan Kembangan, Boon Tiong Road, Hougang, Upper Boon Keng Road and Jalan Chermat.

Cash amounting to about S$190,000 was seized along with an array of computers, laptops, handphones and documents such as betting records.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to have received bets amounting to about S$750,000 in the past two weeks.

This operation was part of continuous efforts to clamp down on illegal football betting activities, a police spokesman said.

Investigations against the suspects are ongoing. If found guilty of placing bets with a bookmaker, they could face a fine of up to $5,000, up to six months in prison, or both.

Those convicted of bookmaking involvement could be fined between $20,000 and $200,000, and could also be jailed for up to five years.