The police nabbed 53 people for criminal offences like rioting, cheating, forgery and robbery in an island-wide operation lasting 17 hours between Feb 18 and 19.

Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the six police land divisions arrested 44 men and 9 women, said a police statement released on Thursday.

Deputy director of the CID, Assistant Commissioner of Police Florence Chua, commended the officers involved in the operation.

"This was a complex operation in which officers showed great perseverance and determination in locating and arresting these persons."