159 arrested in island-wide anti-drug operation

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested 159 suspected drug offenders in an island-wide anti-drug operation from 6 to 17 May 2024. A total of about 937g of heroin, 376g of ‘Ice’, 161g of cannabis, six grammes of ketamine, 102 ‘Yaba’ tablets, 32 ‘Ecstasy’ tablets, 22 Erimin-5 tablets, one LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) stamp, three bottles of liquid suspected to contain GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and four pots of cannabis plants were seized. The drugs seized have an estimated street value of about $221,000. The youngest arrested in this island-wide operation was a 14-year-old male Singaporean, a Secondary Two student, for suspected drug abuse.

2. Some of the areas covered during this island-wide operation included Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Fernvale, Geylang Bahru, Hougang, Pasir Ris, Sembawang, Teck Whye and Yishun.

Father-son duo arrested for drug offences

3. CNB officers raided a residential unit in the vicinity of Fernvale Road on 6 May and arrested a father-son duo – a 52-year-old man and his 14-year-old son, both Singaporeans – for suspected drug trafficking and drug consumption respectively. A search of the unit found small amounts of ‘Ice’ and heroin and various drug paraphernalia. Preliminary investigations found that the man had ever given drugs to his son.

Cannabis plant cultivation

4. Around the dawn of 16 May, CNB officers raided a residential unit in the vicinity of Yishun Avenue 3 and arrested an 18-year-old Singaporean man. A pot of cannabis plant and three pots containing dried-up remnants of cannabis plants were recovered from within a cupboard in the man’s bedroom. Various drug paraphernalia and plant cultivation paraphernalia including soil and organic compost were also recovered. Preliminary investigations found that the man had been attempting to cultivate cannabis plants for about a month.

Photo 1 (CNB): Pots of cannabis plants found in a residential unit in the vicinity of Yishun Avenue 3 that was raided by CNB on 16 May 2024.

Photos 2 - 3 (CNB): View of the cannabis plant cultivation set-up and a close-up view of a growing cannabis plant, found in a residential unit in the vicinity of Yishun Avenue 3 that was raided by CNB on 16 May 2024.

One-year-old in unit raided

5. Of note, in this island-wide operation, there was a case where the one-year-old toddler of a 39-year-old female suspected drug abuser was in the residential unit when CNB officers raided the unit for suspected drug activities on 7 May. The toddler has since been placed under the care of a close-relative of the female suspected drug abuser.

Photo 4 (CNB): CNB officer taking care of the 1-year-old toddler who was within a residential unit that was raided by CNB on 7 May 2024.

6. Assistant Commissioner Sng Chern Hong, Deputy Director CNB (Policy & Administration), said:

“About two in five of those arrested in this island-wide operation were below 30, with the youngest a drug abuser aged only 14. Preliminary investigations found that the teenager’s father had given drugs to the child for the child’s consumption. Familial and inter-generational drug abuse contamination are real. This is a stark manifestation of the untold harm and destruction brought on by drugs on families and society, which is the core message of the inaugural Drug Victims Remembrance Day (17 May 2024) and is a reminder that we cannot loosen our zero-tolerance stance against drugs.

CNB would also like to remind the public that cultivation of cannabis plants is an offence. Under Section 10 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973, it is an offence for a person to cultivate any plant of the genus Cannabis. Any person convicted of cultivation of cannabis plants will face a minimum of 3 years’ imprisonment or $5,000 fine or both.”

7. Investigations into all arrested suspects are ongoing.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
20 May 2024