Officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Changi Airport Group (CAG) conducted a joint operation at Changi Airport on 22 March 2025. 

2            Acting on information received, the multi-agency enforcement operation resulted in nine foreign nationals, aged between 30 and 48, being investigated for their involvement in illegal touting activities. 

3            Investigations found that the individuals – who held Work Permits, S Passes, or Social Visit Passes – had approached travellers of the same nationality to solicit them to carry gold and mobile phones back to their home countries. These items were intended to be handed over to their counterparts in their home countries, in exchange for a cash reward. Following the conclusion of the investigations, eight individuals had their work passes revoked by MOM and one had his Short-Term Visit Pass cancelled by ICA. All of them will be deported and barred from re-entering Singapore. 

5            Foreigners on work passes are only allowed to work in the occupation, and for the employer, as approved for their work pass. They are not allowed to operate or participate in any other business. Foreign visitors on Short-Term Visit Passes are prohibited from engaging in any form of employment (paid or unpaid), business, profession, or occupation in Singapore during their stay in Singapore. 

6             The Singapore authorities would also like to remind travellers to avoid carrying goods on behalf of strangers, as doing so may expose them to security risks, or arrest and prosecution for involvement in illicit activities.