54 arrested in island-wide anti-drug operation; more than 2.4kg heroin seized

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested 54 suspected drug offenders in an island-wide anti-drug operation from 24 to 29 November 2024. A total of about 2,430g of heroin, 64g of ‘Ice’, 723g of cannabis, 9g of ketamine, 38 ‘Ecstasy’ tablets, 94 Erimin-5 tablets and 2,034 tablets of ‘Tawon Liar’ believed to contain Tapentadol were seized. The amount of heroin, ‘Ice’, cannabis, ketamine, ‘Ecstasy’ and Erimin-5 seized have an estimated street value of about $286,000. The youngest arrested in this island-wide operation was a 16-year-old Singaporean girl, for suspected drug abuse.

2. Some of the areas covered during this island-wide operation included Bukit Batok, Hougang. Marsiling, Queenstown and Yishun.

Suspected drug trafficker seen holding knife; large amounts of heroin and cannabis seized

3. In one of the operations in the morning of 29 November, CNB officers raided a residential unit in the central region of Singapore, where a 60-year-old Singaporean man was seen holding a knife. The man was swiftly subdued by the officers to prevent injury to himself and those around him, and was arrested therein for suspected drug trafficking offences. About 2,395g of heroin, 722g of cannabis, 25g of ‘Ice’, 44 Erimin-5 tablets and two ‘Ecstasy’ tablets were seized from within the unit. Forced entry was effected as the man had refused to heed the lawful orders of the officers to open the door.

4. The seizure of about 2,395g of heroin, 722g of cannabis, 25g of ‘Ice’, 44 Erimin-5 tablets and two ‘Ecstasy’ tablets has an estimated street value of about $273,000, and the amount of heroin, cannabis and ‘Ice’ seized in this operation can feed the addiction of about 1,258 abusers for a week.

Photo 1 (CNB): The knife held by a suspected drug trafficker arrested by CNB officers on 29 November 2024, as part of an island-wide anti-drug operation from 24 to 29 November 2024.

Photo 2 (CNB): Controlled drugs seized from an operation conducted by CNB in the central region of Singapore on 29 November 2024.

5. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Chang Gim Fook, Deputy Director (Operations) of Intelligence Division, said of the operation:

“The operation on 29 November is an example of the dangers that CNB officers face every day. The suspect was holding a knife, and we had assessed that he could pose a danger to himself and to the officers. Drug traffickers may be armed, increasing the risk to our officers. But this will not deter us. CNB officers are well-trained to handle such situations and managed to safely and effectively subdue the suspect before anyone got hurt. The swift action of the team allowed us to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs that could otherwise pose great harm to Singapore.”

6. Under Section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973, it is an offence for a person, on his or her own behalf, or on behalf of any other person, whether or not that other person is in Singapore, to traffic in a controlled drug, offer to traffic in a controlled drug; or to do or offer to do any act preparatory to or for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled drug. If a person is found guilty of trafficking more than 15g of diamorphine or “pure heroin”, or more than 500g of cannabis, he or she may face the mandatory death penalty.

7. Investigations into all arrested suspects are ongoing.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
29 NOVEMBER 2024