About 1.2kg ‘Mushroom’ seized. Two arrested.

            In the afternoon of 24 June 2019, officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested two suspected drug offenders in the vicinity of Redhill Market, a 46-year-old suspected abuser and a 53-year-old suspected trafficker, both Singaporean males.  The 46-year-old male surrendered a packet containing about 52g of vegetable matter suspected to contain new psychoactive substances (NPS) and a search of the 53-year-old recovered about 3g of similar vegetable matter. 

2          CNB officers proceeded to raid the residence of the 53-year-old male, located in the vicinity of Redhill Road.  From within the unit, a total of about 1,138g of vegetable matter suspected to contain NPS were recovered.  The drugs were packed in numerous “Butterfly” tobacco product packaging.

Photo-1 (CNB): NPS packed in “Butterfly” tobacco product packaging, seized in CNB operation on 25 June 2019.

3         Investigations into the drug activities of the suspects are ongoing.  New psychoactive substances (NPS), also known colloquially as ‘mushroom’, are substances that mimic the effects of other Class A controlled drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine and ‘Ecstasy’, and are produced by introducing slight modifications to the chemical structures of controlled drugs.  Their abuse has been linked to adverse physical and psychological reactions, including paranoia, seizures, hallucinations and even death. The consumption, possession, trafficking, import or export of any controlled drugs is an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.  Any person found guilty of trafficking Class A controlled drugs will face a minimum of five years’ imprisonment and five strokes of the cane.  They will also be liable for enhanced penalties if they re-offend or sell to young or vulnerable persons.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU

26 JUNE 2019