119 arrested in island-wide anti-drug operation

Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested 119 suspected drug offenders in an island-wide anti-drug operation from 19 to 29 February 2024. A total of about 1,900g of heroin, 390g of 'Ice', 453g of cannabis, 8g of ketamine, 2g of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), 82 Ecstasy tablets, two Erimin 5 tablets, nine LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) stamps and 1g of cocaine were seized. The drugs have an estimated street value of about $343,000. The youngest arrested in this island-wide operation was an 18-year-old girl for drug trafficking.

2. Some of the areas covered during this island-wide operation included Clementi, Geylang, Punggol, Sembawang, Tampines and Woodlands.

Teenage drug abuser charged at CNB officer with a knife in bid to evade arrest

3. In the early morning of 19 February, CNB officers visited the residence of a 19-year-old suspected Singaporean male drug abuser located in the vicinity of Clementi Avenue 4. A 21-year-old Singaporean man, later ascertained to be a friend of the 19-year-old, was arrested for suspected drug abuse within the unit.

4. As the officers were conducting a search in the master bedroom, the 19-year-old youth who had been hiding behind the curtains charged towards a CNB female officer with a knife. The team of CNB officers swiftly unarmed the assailant, subdued him and placed him under arrest. He was referred to Police for further investigation for criminal intimidation while CNB continues investigations into his drug offences.

Photo 1 (SPF): Knife seized from a teenage drug abuser in a residential unit in the vicinity of Clementi Avenue 4 in a CNB operation conducted on 19 February 2024.

5. In the morning of 21 February, CNB officers raided a residential unit in the vicinity of Clementi Avenue 2 and arrested four Singaporean men, aged between 58 and 69, for suspected drug trafficking offences. A CNB officer who was conducting observation on the unit saw items being thrown out of the bedroom window before the arrest. A total of about 1,788g of heroin, 19g of 'Ice' and various drug paraphernalia within the unit and strewn at the foot of the residential block were recovered and seized.

Photo 2 - 4 (CNB): Controlled drugs, including heroin and Ice, seized in the vicinity of Clementi Avenue 2 in a CNB operation conducted on 21 February 2024.

Young Singaporeans arrested for suspected drug trafficking offences

6. In the evening of 22 February, acting on information received, CNB officers arrested a 23-year-old Singaporean man and an 18-year-old Singaporean girl at the void deck of a residential block in the vicinity of Edgefield Plains for suspected drug trafficking offences via Telegram. About 11g of 'Ice' were recovered from the man's belongings. A search was conducted in the man's residence located in the same block, where about 60g of 'Ice' and 27 Ecstasy tablets were seized. A baton and a knuckle duster were also found in the man's car. Officers also seized about 3g of 'Ice' from the girl's residence located in the vicinity of Aljunied Crescent.

7. 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, he or she may face the mandatory death penalty.

8. Investigations into all arrested suspects are ongoing.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
4 March 2024