Singapore says China arrests 52 citizens in pyramid scheme clampdown

Singapore informed that Chinese authorities have apprehended 52 of its citizens on suspicion of involvement in pyramid schemes, marking what the city-state might be the largest overseas detention of its nationals to date, according to local media reports on Friday. The arrests occurred in China's Guangxi province as part of a law enforcement operation aimed at combating suspected pyramid schemes and associated offenses, stated Singapore's foreign ministry and police in a joint declaration.

The statement did not disclose the exact timing of the arrests. Investigations by Chinese authorities are still ongoing, and the Singapore Police Force has reached out to their Chinese counterparts for additional information, the statement further emphasized.

Singaporean diplomats have visited the detained suspects to ensure their well-being and offer consular assistance, the declaration added. Singapore urges its citizens to be cautious when approached by schemes that involve participant recruitment or the upfront payment of significant amounts of money, whether in overseas or local settings. China has not validated the arrests. Upon inquiry from AFP, Beijing's foreign ministry stated that China handles criminal cases involving foreign nationals in compliance with the law.