News
Eight convicted for drug trafficking and money laundering offences
10 February 2025
Between 2023 and 2024, eight Singaporean men were convicted and sentenced for drug trafficking and drug money laundering offences1. The men who were arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in separate anti-drug operations were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment terms up to 30 years, and up to eight strokes of the cane. The youngest offender was 19 years old at the time of conviction2.
2. A total of about 1,003g of heroin, 729g of ‘Ice’, 382g of cannabis, 79g of cannabis mixture, 95g of ketamine, 1g of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 84 ‘Ecstasy’ tablets, 10 Erimin-5 tablets and seven LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) stamps were seized from the anti-drug operations. The estimated worth of the drugs seized is about $215,000 and can feed the addiction of about 950 abusers for a week. A total of $7,521.79 worth of proceeds and assets, including a luxury sedan, derived from the offenders’ illegal drug activities or otherwise linked to them, were forfeited and surrendered to the State.
3. CNB’s investigations revealed that the offenders either possessed benefits from drug dealings, in the form of money or assets, or had transferred the proceeds within or out of Singapore. These actions contravened Singapore’s stringent anti-drug and anti-money laundering laws.
4. Under Section 53 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (“CDSA”) 1992 (and Section 46 of CDSA (2000 Rev Ed)), it is an offence for any person to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer, remove from jurisdiction, acquire, possess, use, benefits of drug dealing. The maximum penalties are a jail term of up to 10 years, a fine of up to $500,000 or both.
5. Senior Assistant Commissioner Leon Chan, Acting Director of CNB, said:
“The convictions of the drug offenders underscore Singapore’s firm stance against drugs and drug money laundering crimes. Drug traffickers should not be allowed to benefit from the pain and harm they cause to their victims. To combat this, CNB pursues and investigates illegal drug activities and deprives drug traffickers of their illicit financial gains derived from drug dealings. We will continue to work with our industry and community partners and leverage public-private partnerships to stamp out such crimes. We remain committed to detecting, investigating and prosecuting those who attempt to exploit our financial system and contravene Singapore’s drug laws and anti-money laundering laws for personal gain.”
6. The Government will continuously enhance our laws to ensure that they remain effective in addressing the evolving crime landscape and are aligned with the international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)3.
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
10 February 2025
1A summary is at ANNEX.
2CNB News Release: Forfeiture of Luxury Sedan Acquired Through Drug Trafficking Proceeds
3The FATF is an intergovernmental body that develops international standards to fight money laundering, terrorism financing (TF) and proliferation financing (PF). Singapore is a member of the FATF.
ANNEX
Sentencing outcomes of the eight drug offenders convicted for drug trafficking and money laundering offences
S/N | Age | Sentencing outcomes | Drugs seized; Cash and assets forfeited |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 55 years old | Convicted and sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment for one count of drug trafficking charge under Section 5(1)(a) r/w Section 5(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act (“MDA”) 1973, and one count of drug money laundering charge under Section 53(1)(c) of CDSA 1992. |
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2 | 26 years old | Convicted and sentenced to 5 years, 8 months and 3 weeks' imprisonment, and 5 strokes of the cane for one count of drug trafficking charge under Section 5(1)(a) r/w Section 5(2) of MDA 1973, one count of possession of a controlled drug under Section 8(a) of MDA 1973, one count of consumption of a specified drug under Section (8)(b)(ii) of MDA 1973, one count of drug money laundering charge under Section 53(1)(c) of CDSA 1992, and one count of causing hurt by an act which endanger the personal safety of others under Section 337(a) of the Penal Code 1871. |
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3 | 50 years old | Convicted and sentenced to 5 years, 8 months and 2 weeks’ imprisonment for one count of drug trafficking charge under Section 5(1)(a) of MDA 1973, one count of possession of a controlled drug under Section 8(a) of MDA 1973, one count of consumption of a specified drug under Section (8)(b)(ii) of MDA 1973, one count of drug money laundering charge under Section 53(1)(c) of CDSA 1992. |
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4 | 27 years old | Convicted and sentenced to 7 years and 1 month's imprisonment, and 7 strokes of the cane for one count of drug trafficking charge under Section 5(1)(a) of MDA 1973, one count of consumption of a specified drug under Section (8)(b)(ii) of MDA 1973, one count of drug money laundering charge under Section 53(1)(c) of CDSA 1992. |
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5 | 19 years old | Convicted and sentenced to reformative training for a minimum of 12 months’ detention in a reformative training centre for one count of drug trafficking charge under Section 5(1)(a) r/w Section 5(2) of MDA 1973, two counts of possession of a controlled drug under Section 8(a) of MDA 1973, one count of drug money laundering charge under Section 53(1)(b) of CDSA 1992, and two counts of traffic offences under Section 35(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961. Disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for a period of 2 years. |
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6 | 23 years old | Convicted and sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment and 5 strokes of the cane for one count of drug trafficking charge under Section 5(1)(a) r/w Section 5(2) of MDA 1973 and one count of drug money laundering charge under Section 53(3) of CDSA 1992. |
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7 | 25 years old | Convicted and sentenced to 7 years and 24 months' imprisonment, and 8 strokes of the cane for one count of drug trafficking charge under Section 5(1)(a) of MDA 1973, two counts of possession of a controlled drug under Section 8(a) of MDA 1973, one count of consumption of a specified drug under Section (8)(b)(ii) of MDA 1973, one count of consumption of a controlled drug under Section 8(b)(i) of MDA 1973, and one count of drug money laundering charge under Section 53(1)(c) of CDSA 1992. |
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8 | 58 years old | Convicted and sentenced to 28 years and 9 months’ imprisonment for one count of drug trafficking charge under Section 5(1)(a) r/w Section 5(2) r/w Section 13(b) of MDA 1973, and four counts of drug money laundering charge under Section 46(1)(b), 43(1)(a) and 46(2)(b) of the CDSA (2000 Rev Ed).4 |
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4The man has since filed a notice of appeal against his sentence.