SINGAPORE - A four-day anti-loansharking blitz nabbed 135 suspects, aged between 17 and 75. Of these suspects 89 were men and 46 were women. The island-wide operation took place from Nov 11 to 14, and involved simultaneous raids at various locations.

Six suspects were believed to be involved in loansharking activities as runners by carrying out Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transfers or procuring ATM cards for the loansharks' use. Another 13 suspects were believed to have splashed paint or scrawled loanshark-related graffiti on walls. Two suspects were believed to have provided false contact information when obtaining loans from loansharks.

Another 114 suspects were believed to have opened bank accounts and given away their ATM cards to the loansharks to facilitate their activities. Investigations against all the suspects are ongoing, police said on Saturday.