Singapore says China arrests 52 citizens in pyramid scheme clampdown

Singapore announced on Friday that China had arrested 52 of its citizens suspected of involvement in pyramid schemes, marking the largest detention of Singaporean nationals overseas to date. The arrests occurred in China's southern province of Guangxi as part of a law enforcement operation targeting suspected pyramid schemes and related offenses.

Singapore's Foreign Ministry and police released a joint statement confirming the detentions but did not specify the exact date. The Chinese authorities are currently conducting investigations into the matter, and the Singapore Police Force has contacted their Chinese counterparts for additional information. Singaporean diplomats have visited the detained individuals to ensure their well-being and offer consular assistance.

Singaporean authorities have advised its citizens to exercise caution when approached by schemes that involve recruiting participants or require large upfront payments, whether in foreign or domestic contexts. The Chinese government has not confirmed the arrests. In response to the situation, Beijing's Foreign Ministry stated that criminal cases involving foreign nationals are handled "in accordance with the law."

This incident follows other major cases in Singapore involving Chinese nationals accused of running or facilitating cross-border criminal operations. In 2023, Singapore police arrested 10 Chinese nationals and Chinese-born foreigners in an extensive anti-money laundering operation worth approximately US$2.4 billion, which included seized or frozen assets such as luxury properties, vehicles, cash, and cryptocurrency.