In the first case, police attending to a dispute involving two youths noticed one of them behaving nervously. A check uncovered loanshark harassment-related paraphernalia, including a black marker and a mobile phone. Both youths were arrested, and further investigations led to three other accomplices.

Two runners collecting debt repayments on behalf of loansharking syndicates were also nabbed in two separate incident on the same day.

Officers patrolling in Yishun spotted a 26-year-old man behaving suspiciously and found excessive amounts of cash and ATM cards not belonging to him.

Similarly, officers conducting anti-loanshark operations in the Serangoon North area noticed a 30-year-old man behaving suspiciously near an ATM and found excessive amounts of cash and assorted ATM and bank transaction receipts in his possession.

That same night, a 28-year-old man was arrested after patrolling officers found him behaving suspiciously inside a parked car, and had in his possession three mobile phones containing bank account numbers and other information related to unlicensed moneylending activities.

At Compassvale around 2.30am, the police received a call from a member of the public regarding the suspicious behaviour of a 16-year-old youth. A check found loanshark harassment related paraphernalia in his possession including a marker and debtor records, among other items. Preliminary investigations indicate that he was responsible for loanshark related writings on vehicles in the vicinity.

First-time offenders found guilty of assisting an unlicensed moneylender may be fined between $20,000 and $200,000, or jailed up to two years, or both.

First-time offenders found guilty of loanshark harassment may be fined from $4,000 to $40,000 or jailed for up to three years, or both, and be liable for caning if damage or harm was caused to any property or person.

Police also cautioned youths against being involved in illegal loansharking activities.