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13 Immigration Offenders and One Suspected Harbourer Arrested

            On 3 March 2026, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducted an enforcement operation in the vicinity of Hougang and arrested a total of 13 immigration offenders and one suspected harbourer. 

2.        The immigration offenders, who are all Indian nationals, comprised 11 males and two females, aged between 19 and 44 years old. All 13 of them had overstayed in Singapore after the expiry of their visit passes. In addition, a 26-year-old Indian national who had provided lodging for the immigration offenders was arrested for suspected harbouring offences. Investigations are ongoing. 

3.        ICA would like to reiterate that overstaying is a serious offence with severe penalties. Offenders can receive a jail term of up to six months, and a minimum of three strokes of the cane or a fine of up to $6,000. Arrested immigration offenders are also deported and barred from re-entering Singapore after sentencing and/or payment of fines. 

4.        ICA takes a firm stance against any person who harbours immigration offenders. Those who wish to rent out their premises must exercise due diligence in checking the immigration status of their prospective foreign tenants to ensure that their stay in Singapore is legal. They are required to conduct three mandatory checks: 

(a) Check the tenant’s original immigration/work pass;
(b) Cross check the particulars on his/her pass against the particulars on his/her original passport; and
(c) Verify the validity of his/her pass by checking with the issuing authority (i.e. the Ministry of Manpower for work passes and the ICA for immigration passes – Student’s Pass and Long-Term Visit Pass).

5.        A person found guilty of recklessly or knowingly harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than six months and up to two years and a fine of up to S$6,000. A person found guilty of negligently harbouring overstayers and/or illegal immigrants may be sentenced to a fine of up to S$6,000 or to imprisonment for a term of up to 12 months, or to both.

6.        Members of public should report suspected cases of immigration offenders to ICA at https://go.gov.sg/icafeedbackio.


IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
4 MARCH 2026

Annex



13 Immigration offenders and one suspected harbourer arrested by ICA on 3 March 2026. Credit: ICA