Man wanted for drug trafficking in Singapore arrested in Vietnam; returns to Singapore to face charges

A 43-year-old Singaporean man has been arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on 28 June 2024 for suspected drug trafficking.

2. The man, who operates from overseas, is wanted for his suspected involvement in supplying drugs to associates in Singapore for their subsequent trafficking and sale in Singapore.

3. His involvement was uncovered during the course of CNB’s investigation into a drug trafficking case in February 2021. The accused in the February 2021 case, a Singaporean man aged 36 at the time of arrest, was arrested with about 472g of heroin. He has since been convicted and sentenced.

4. Immigration records indicated that the 43-year-old man had been out of Singapore since 27 September 2019. CNB reached out to its foreign counterparts for information on his whereabouts.

5. Following close cooperation between CNB and the Counter-Narcotics Police Department (CNPD) of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of Viet Nam to monitor the fugitive, on 28 June, the man was deported and handed over to CNB.

6. In expressing appreciation to CNPD/MPS, SAC Leon Chan, Deputy Director of CNB for Operations, said:

“CNB would like to thank CNPD/MPS for their strong support in rendering assistance to CNB for this case. The close cooperation between CNB and CNPD in this operation is testament to the strong working relationship and trust that CNB has with CNPD, which resulted in the arrest of a Singaporean who believed he could carry on supplying drugs to associates in Singapore with impunity, simply by setting up base in Viet Nam. He was badly mistaken. CNB will pursue all leads and work closely with our foreign counterparts to apprehend such criminals and bring them to justice.”

7. The 43-year-old man has been charged for drug trafficking in relation to the case involving the 39-year-old man.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
30 JUNE 2024