Thirteen people - nine men and four women - have been arrested for their suspected involvement in issuing illegal loans to players in the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) casino.

The crackdown on the syndicate took place on Wednesday by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department. They were supported by the Police Intelligence Department, Casino Regulatory Authority and MBS.

Preliminary investigations have shown that the 13 people, aged between 30 and 65, were giving out illegal loans to players there.

Six of them will be charged in court today under the Moneylenders Act. Investigations against the remaining suspects are ongoing.

Under the Moneylenders Act, those found guilty of operating or assisting in the operating of a loansharking business may be fined between $30,000 to $300,000 and put in jail for up to four years. He or she is also liable to receive up to six strokes of the cane.