CNB arrested 85 drug offenders in 48-hour islandwide operation

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) continued to sustain its pressure on drug offenders with another island-wide operation from 30 July to 1 August. CNB officers arrested a total of 85 suspected drug offenders. Of these, 78 were arrested for suspected drug abuse and 7 were arrested for involvement in drug trafficking. An assortment of drugs was seized, including about 21 grammes of heroin, 4 grammes of ‘Ice,’ 4 grammes of cannabis as well as some Ecstasy and ketamine.

The operation was conducted all across Singapore, including Aljunied, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bukit Merah, Circuit Road, Geylang, Pasir Ris, Sembawang, Serangoon, Toa Payoh, and Yuan Ching Road.

Two Circuit Road drug traffickers arrested

In one of the cases, CNB arrested two suspected drug traffickers and four suspected abusers in the vicinity of Circuit Road over a period of 6 hours.

Targeting two local Singaporeans, believed to be trafficking heroin in the area, CNB officers raided a HDB unit in Circuit Road on 30 July, at about 12 noon. From the unit, they arrested a 45-year-old Singaporean man, believed to be one of these traffickers, and recovered a 1-gramme sachet of heroin. Another 61-year-old Singaporean man was arrested in the vicinity of the unit for suspected drug abuse.

After the first arrest, CNB officers continued to stake out the area and the second drug trafficker, a 56-year-old Singaporean woman, was arrested at a coffeeshop in Aljunied Crescent in the afternoon. From her handbag, CNB officers recovered 11 straws of heroin. A 46-year-old Singaporean man with the woman was also arrested for suspected drug abuse. Follow-up arrests by CNB officers over the next few hours in the vicinity netted two more suspected drug abusers – two Singaporean men, aged 43 and 44. They were believed to be the drug clients of the 56-year-old woman.

The two suspected traffickers (the 45-year-old man and 56-year-old woman) are being investigated for trafficking in a controlled drug. If convicted, the man faces a minimum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and five strokes of the cane; while the woman will face a minimum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. The four suspected drug abusers will be investigated for drug consumption.

Drug Traffickers’ Hide-outs in Ang Mo Kio Busted

In two separate raids, another team of CNB officers have also arrested two drug traffickers in Ang Mo Kio.

In the first raid at about 11am on 30 July, CNB officers arrested a suspected trafficker, a 24-year-old Singaporean woman, in a HDB flat in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4. In the flat, CNB officers recovered a total of three straws of heroin, two packets of ‘Ice’ and some drug trafficking paraphernalia, such as a weighing scale and empty straws. Two suspected abusers, a 60-year-old Singaporean man and a 43-year-old Singaporean woman, were also arrested in the flat.

Targeting another drug trafficker, CNB officers raided another flat in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 on the same day at about 1.20pm. CNB officers had to effect forced entry into the flat as the occupant had refused to open the door despite repeated warnings. The suspected drug trafficker, a 38-year-old Singaporean man, residing in the flat was swiftly apprehended and straws of heroin were recovered from the man’s jeans pocket.

The two drug traffickers are under investigation for trafficking in a controlled drug. If convicted, the man faces a minimum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and five strokes of the cane; while the woman will face a minimum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. The two suspected drug abusers will be investigated for suspected drug consumption.

CNB will not relent on its enforcement efforts to eradicate illicit drug abuse activities at the street level. Such operations will be conducted regularly to keep Singapore’s streets free from drugs.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
1 AUGUST 2012

File photo of suspects arrested by CNB during islandwide operations