Suspected trafficker of new psychoactive substance arrested

          During a raid on 4 January 2018, Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers arrested a 63-year-old Singaporean male at a hotel along Geylang Road for suspected trafficking of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). A total of about 250g of vegetable matter believed to be tobacco stained with new psychoactive substance was seized.

          In the early morning of 4 January 2018, CNB officers raided a hotel room located along Geylang Road where a 63-year-old Singaporean and his spouse – a 49-year-old foreign national – were staying. A search of the room uncovered a container with about 250g of vegetable matter believed to be tobacco stained with new psychoactive substance, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, numerous tobacco labels, one weighing scale, rolling papers and a printer.

          Preliminary investigations revealed that the male suspect would adulterate the tobacco stained with NPS, with other substances including thinner and contact cement. He would then repack them into plastic packets and disguise them as normal tobacco for sale.

          Investigations into the drug activities of the suspect are ongoing. The Bureau would like to remind members of the public that abuse of new psychoactive substances can cause harm to one’s mental and physical health. The chemical compounds added to the drugs are unknown, and could cause serious health problems such as severe intoxication, seizures, renal failure and even death. In this case, products such as thinner and contact cement often carry labels warning about possible poisoning from its ingestion, inhalation or consumption.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU

8 JANUARY 2018

Photo 1: Vegetable matter believed to be tobacco stained with new psychoactive substance seized from the hotel room

Photo 2: Plastic packets of suspected NPS disguised as tobacco product for sale