Six men arrested over links to global syndicate that conducts ‘malicious cyber activities’

SINGAPORE: Six men were arrested in Singapore on Monday (Sep 9) for their suspected links to a global syndicate that conducts “malicious cyber activities”.
About 160 officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, Police Intelligence Department, Special Operations Command and Internal Security Department (ISD) conducted simultaneous raids at multiple residential locations on Monday.
The six men – five Chinese nationals and a Singaporean – were arrested in the raids, with electronic devices and cash seized.
They will be charged on Tuesday, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and ISD in a joint news release.
All six were remanded in custody for further investigations as the police investigate their local network of contacts and the “global syndicate to which they are linked”. The syndicate was not named by the authorities.
“This is a significant operation as the individuals are suspected to be carrying out global malicious cyber operations from Singapore,” said SPF and ISD.
“We have zero tolerance (for) the use of Singapore to conduct criminal activities, including illegal cyber activities. We will deal severely with perpetrators.”
One of the suspects is a 42-year-old Chinese man who was arrested at a condominium along Bidadari Park Drive.
The authorities found a laptop that contained credentials to access internet servers used by known hacker groups. 
Five laptops, six mobile phones, cash of more than S$24,000 (US$18,400) and cryptocurrency worth about US$850,000 were seized.
Three Chinese men were arrested at a landed property along Mount Sinai Avenue. 
One of the men, aged 38, was found with laptops containing data obtained without authorisation, such as personal information of people outside Singapore. This includes personally identifiable information relating to foreign internet service providers.
Another 35-year-old man was found with a laptop containing various computer hacking tools. He is suspected to have made preparations to conduct cyberattacks, such as exploiting vulnerabilities in internet servers.
The youngest man was in possession of a laptop containing various specialised software to control malware, such as PlugX.
According to Malpedia, an online resource documenting malware attacks, PlugX is a remote access trojan that can be used to fully control a victim’s machine. Once it gains access, the malware’s functionalities include executing remote commands and allowing its operator to explore file systems.
In total, police seized seven laptops, 11 mobile phones and cash of more than S$54,000 from the three men in the Mount Sinai property.
Officers also arrested at 38-year-old Chinese national at a condominium along Cairnhill Road.
He is suspected of offering to purchase personally identifiable information that was believed to have been obtained through illegal means, the authorities said.
The police seized a laptop, nine mobile phones and S$465,000 from him.
The sole Singaporean was arrested at his Housing Board (HDB) flat along Hougang Avenue. He is suspected of abetting the illegal cyber activities.
All six men will be charged with offences under the Computer Misuse Act.