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Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB)
CNB Explains

CNB Explains: What happens after a suspect is arrested for a drug offence?

15 November 2023

After arrest, CNB conducts drug tests, takes statements, and within 48 hours, decides whether to release the suspect, offer bail, send them to a Drug Rehabilitation Centre, refer them to other agencies, or prosecute in court.

Typical sequence of events for investigations

Infographic of Typical sequence of events for investigations.

Additional considerations if the suspect is…

  • Mentally disabled,
    An Appropriate Adult (AA) will be activated for investigative interviews if he/she is assessed to be an offender with a mental disability.

  • Aged under 18,
    An AA will be activated for investigative interviews and a parent of the youth will be informed of the arrest. The youth will be allowed to call their family after statement recording.

  • Aged under 21,
    CNB works with MSF to ensure that necessary support and intervention are provided. If the subject is a student, MOE will also be notified so that the school can take note of the subject under investigation, and provide the necessary support.

    Depending on risk assessment, eligible youths may undergo the Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme (YES), a programme which is run by MSF. The scheme is a non-residential programme for abusers below 21 years of age who have been assessed to have lower risk of drug re-offending.

    *For specific considerations given to young suspects, click here.

  • An elderly aged 65 and above,Officers will ensure that adequate support is given to the suspect during investigation.

    Post-investigation, CNB works with the suspect's next-of-kin or the relevant Family Service Centre and/or Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to ensure that appropriate resources or other forms of social assistance are provided to the suspect.

All investigations into suspected drug-related offences are carried out by CNB, including those uncovered by the Singapore Police Force.

Tests for drugs

CNB uses urine or hair sample tests to test for the presence of drugs in the body. These tests are used on both adults and young persons.

Urine tests

To facilitate procurement of the urine specimen, officers will provide suspects with water at appropriate intervals if necessary.

Sterilised empty bottles are used by suspects to collect the urine specimen. Suspect will be required to wash and dry his/her hands before the collection of the empty bottles for provision of the urine specimens. Once collected, the bottles are sealed and labelled by the officer in the suspect's presence.

The suspect is required to check and sign the labelled bottles in the presence of the officer and suspect will deposit these bottles into security boxes, which are kept locked at all times and will be delivered to the Health Science Authority (HSA) for a confirmatory test.

Hair tests

Hair testing may be used as an alternative or in addition to the urine test to detect the presence of drugs in the body. CNB officers would clip hair from multiple spots on the suspect’s head, taking care to make the clippings less noticeable, and place the hair samples into sealed bags in the suspect's presence. As with the urine samples, all hair samples are sealed and sent to HSA for analysis.

Investigative Interviews

Statement-taking

Interviews are conducted during investigations to establish if an offence has been committed. During interviews, officers are trained to look out for the needs of suspects to ensure that suspects are treated professionally and fairly during investigations. The suspect's statements will be recorded down in writing and may also be video-recorded in certain circumstances.

Support

CNB officers are trained to assess if suspects, for example the elderly, youths or persons suffering from mental disabilities, would require additional support during interviews. For elderly suspects, officers will take additional actions to ensure that reasonable care is given to the suspect, and they will work with the suspect's family, or relevant Family Service Centre or MSF for suspects. For youths and persons with mental disabilities, officers will activate a trained volunteer from the AA scheme to be present during the interview. AAs are independent and neutral persons who observe the conduct of the interviews. They are volunteers managed by MSF-appointed service providers who have been trained to provide emotional support and facilitate communication between the suspect and officers during the interview. Find out more about different AA schemes for young suspects and the mentally disabled.

Under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, Section 68, suspects can be detained for up to 48 hours from the time of initial arrest to assist in investigations. They will be allowed to communicate with his/her family members after completion of the preliminary investigations.

Depending on the outcome of the preliminary investigations, a suspected offender may be:

  • released unconditionally from CNB’s custody;

  • offered a Bail & Bond;

  • referred to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) for medical observation;

  • referred to other Law Enforcement Agencies if other offences were committed;

  • prosecuted in court with request to be further remanded to assist in investigation; or

  • prosecuted in the Court.

CNB officers have the power to order that further drug tests be conducted on suspects regardless of the results of prior tests.

Typical investigations will take about two to three months. In more complex cases, such as those involving more than one suspect, or those where the suspects are concurrently being investigated by a few law enforcement agencies, the time taken will be longer.

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