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Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB)
News

Close to 27kg of Cocaine seized at airport; five female foreign nationals in transit arrested for suspected drug trafficking

31 July 2025

       In the late afternoon of 29 July 2025, Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers arrested five female foreign nationals, aged between 21 and 48, for suspected drug trafficking offences in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 4. The arrest was made following an exchange of intelligence between CNB and the Narcotics Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKNB).

2.    Prior to the arrest, CNB officers spotted two of the women (a 21-year-old and a 32-year-old) exchanging luggage. The officers acted quickly to arrest all five women and conducted a search of their belongings, from which a total of about 26.9kg of cocaine and 10g of cannabis were recovered. The seized cocaine was found hidden within stuffed toys. 

Gloved hands hold purple unicorn plush; stuffing and yellow capsules scattered around.
Gloved hands open blue striped plush, revealing cotton filling and yellow/orange capsules inside.
Ten clear bags filled with capsule-shaped objects in shades of white, yellow, and orange.

Photos 1 - 3 (CNB): Cocaine, found concealed within stuffed toys, seized during a CNB operation conducted in the transit area of Changi Airport Terminal 4 on 29 July 2025.

3.     Senior Assistant Commissioner Sng Chern Hong, Covering Director of CNB, said:

“CNB thanks the Narcotics Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force for their sharing of intelligence which led to this large seizure of drugs, and we stand ready to work with our close counterparts to disrupt drug syndicates and their operations. Those who attempt to traffic drugs through Singapore will be stopped and dealt with in accordance with the law. Singapore is not a transit point for drug smugglers and we will not allow our travel hubs to be misused for criminal activity. This operation demonstrates our firm, zero tolerance stance against drugs.”

4.     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 30g of cocaine, he or she may face the mandatory death penalty.

5.     Investigations into the drug activities of the arrested suspects are ongoing.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
31 JULY 2025