65 arrested in island-wide anti-drug operation

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested 65 suspected drug offenders in an island-wide anti-drug operation from 9 to 13 September 2024. A total of about 954g of heroin, 201g of ‘Ice’, 158g of cannabis, 20g of ‘Ecstasy’, 9g of ketamine, 428 Erimin-5 tablets and five bottles of liquid suspected to contain GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) were seized. The youngest arrested in this island-wide operation was a 20-year-old Singaporean man for suspected drug trafficking.

2. Some of the areas covered during this island-wide operation included Bedok, Buangkok, Clementi, Geylang Bahru, Marine Parade and Tampines.

Cannabis trafficker arrested in Bedok North

3. On 11 September, CNB officers raided a residential unit in the vicinity of Bedok North Street 2 and arrested a 33-year-old Singaporean man for suspected drug trafficking. About 123g of cannabis and some drug paraphernalia were recovered from within the unit.

Photo-1 (CNB): Drug-taking apparatus seized in a CNB raid on a residential unit in the vicinity of Bedok North Street 2 on 11 September 2024.

Large cocktail of drugs seized, three arrested

4. Later the same day, following a separate lead, CNB officers arrested three suspected drug traffickers - three Singaporean men (aged 45, 51 and 55). A total of about 896g of heroin, 146g of ‘Ice’, 43g of cannabis, 20g of ‘Ecstasy’, 9g of ketamine and 332 Erimin-5 tablets were seized in this operation spanning Bedok and Upper Boon Keng. The drugs seized in this operation are estimated to be worth about $120,000 and would have fed the addiction of 510 drug abusers for a week.

Photo-2 (CNB): Some of the drugs seized from a CNB operation spanning Bedok to Upper Boon Keng on 11 September 2024.

5. Assistant Commissioner Lim Fung Suan, Director of Enforcement, said of the operations:

“This island-wide operation saw a young person arrested for suspected drug trafficking. We cannot lower our guard on the youth drug situation. Youths must be continuously engaged on the harms of drugs and its detrimental effects on families and society. Parents need to pay close attention to the company their child keep, to avoid them mixing with the wrong company. Prevention is better than cure.”

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 500g of cannabis, he or she may face the mandatory death penalty.

7. Investigations into all arrested suspects are ongoing.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
16 SEPTEMBER 2024