A large assortment of drugs, including 6.5kg of cannabis, was seized by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in a multi-location operation on 17 September 2024. The drugs, valued at approximately S$330,000, could potentially feed the addiction of 1,480 abusers for a week, according to CNB. Five men, aged between 19 and 39, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.
## Background
The CNB’s operation highlights the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in Singapore. The significant quantity of drugs seized underscores the severity of the issue and the potential harm to the community. The arrests and seizures are part of CNB’s continuous efforts to dismantle drug networks and curb the availability of illicit substances.
## How the operation unfolded
On the morning of 17 September, CNB officers arrested a 26-year-old man in the car park of a residential estate near Anchorvale Lane in Sengkang. The man was found with 32g of “Ice” on him. Simultaneously, another team of CNB officers raided a residential unit in the same estate, arresting the remaining four men.
## Children witnessed the operation unfold
During the raid at the Anchorvale Lane unit, three children aged 11, 13, and 15 were present. Arrangements were made to ensure the children’s welfare, and they have since been placed in the care of their next-of-kin. A search of the unit revealed 6.15kg of cannabis, 777g of “Ice”, 281g of “Ecstasy”, 693 LSD stamps, and 1,378 Erimin-5 tablets.
## Additional seizures
CNB officers escorted one of the suspects, a 39-year-old man, to his car parked in the estate. There, they recovered an additional 375g of cannabis, 129g of “Ice”, 11g of “Ecstasy”, and 51 Erimin-5 tablets. Following the arrests, CNB officers raided the official residential units of each suspect, recovering another 19g of “Ice”, two LSD stamps, and five Erimin-5 tablets at a unit in Tampines North Drive 1. Investigations into the suspects’ drug activities are ongoing.
## Penalties
Under Singaporean law, individuals found guilty of trafficking more than 250g of methamphetamine or more than 500g of cannabis may face the mandatory death penalty. This stringent measure reflects the country’s zero-tolerance policy towards drug trafficking.
## Related developments
In a related development, a 31-year-old Singaporean man was arrested in Thailand on 17 September 2024 for suspected drug trafficking. His involvement was uncovered during CNB’s investigations into two drug trafficking cases from December 2020 and November 2022. This arrest further demonstrates the international reach of drug trafficking networks and the collaborative efforts required to combat them.
