You're under arrest: Busted immigration offenders fall 22.38%

Harbourers and employers of IOs also dropped 9.5% and 16.7%.

In a release by Immigration & Checkpoints Authority's Mid-Year Stats, fewer immigration offenders (IOs) were arrested in the first six months of this year, a total of 1,318 IOs, compared to 1,698 and 2,077 arrested in the same period in 2011 and 2010 respectively.

Here's more from ICA:

The figure of 1,318 for the first six months of this year comprises 408 illegal immigrants and 910 overstayers. This represents a fall of 20.2% and 23.3% respectively compared to the same period last year.

ICA’s multi-pronged approach to weed out illegal immigrants and overstayers remains effective. The close working relationships that ICA has forged with its strategic partners over the years, including the Police and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has contributed to the downward trend of immigration offences. Coupled with tough laws, Singapore’s IO situation has been kept in check, and the number of IOs arrested for the first half of 2012 is at an all-time low.

Figures for the arrest of both harbourers and employers of IOs have been declining steadily. The number of harbourers arrested in the first half of 2012 dropped by about 9.5% compared to the same period last year. Similarly, the number of employers arrested also decreased by 16.7%.

From 1 July 2012, ICA has taken over all the investigative and associated functions for harbouring and employment cases from the Police. This transfer enables the enforcement of all immigration related offences to be consolidated under ICA, reaping economies of scale and synergies within the organisation. This also allows ICA to set standards and strengthen competencies in this particular area.

ICA officers will continue to remain vigilant and work with our strategic counterparts to mount inland operations to weed out harbourers and employers of IOs.