Drug lords’ Singapore links resurface as executions threaten to gain pace at Changi Prison

[syed putra]

Singapore, which has some of the world's toughest drugs laws, insists the death penalty is an effective deterrent against crime. Photo: Reuters
A well-documented nexus involving some of the biggest drug lords in the region doing business in Singapore has resurfaced on the back of the city-state’s continued defiance of international criticism over a series of scheduled executions of “small-time” mules convicted over the past decade.
In 2005, opposition politician Chee Soon Juan accused the Singapore leadership of hypocrisy in defending its death penalty for drug trafficking, citing its huge investments in Myanmar despite multiple indictments of drug lords with links to the military junta there.
“This government keeps going on about having to take a tough stance on drugs and what a scourge illicit drugs are in our society. Fine, but go and get it at its source,” Chee, a former political prisoner who had been sued by the late Lee Kuan Yew and his son, the current prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, told Australia’s The Age newspaper then.
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“What’s the point of getting the mules? You know these drug lords are just going to find new people to get the drugs.”
This is a view at the heart of international protest over Singapore’s recent attempts to hang those convicted of drug trafficking, most of whom said they were forced to become involved in the illicit trade by drug lords.

“What’s the point of getting the mules? You know these drug lords are just going to find new people to get the drugs.”​

Critics have pointed out that many of those awaiting execution in Singapore’s Changi Prison are drug mules from poor families whom they say often end up in the execution chambers while the drug kingpins who employed them go unpunished.
Stressing this point, British aviation magnate Richard Branson recently wrote an open letter to Singapore President Halimah Yacob to stop the execution of Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, a Malaysian diagnosed with mental disabilities.
Branson, like many others, said statistics showed that the death penalty for drug crimes had failed to deter the offences, adding that even extreme measures such as those taken by President Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines could not end the illicit trade.
“Yet, the global drug trade continues to grow, and illicit drugs of all types are more readily available around the world than at any other point in history.
“If deterrence is the objective, these laws have failed miserably. And they will continue to fail,” Branson wrote.

The nexus of drug kingpins

More than a decade ago, Swedish journalist Bertil Linter documented how Singapore had been doing business with individuals and companies in Myanmar with links to drug kingpins.

Lo Hsing Han. Photo: Reuters
They included the family of the late “heroin king” Lo Hsing Han, which owns Asia World Co Ltd, a major infrastructure conglomerate in Myanmar with which the Singapore government had a joint venture at a time when the Burmese junta was condemned for its human rights crimes.

In 2008, Lo, alongside his son Steven Law and Singaporean wife Cecilia Ng, were added to a blacklist maintained by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), saying they were financially tied to the Burmese regime with “a history of involvement in illicit activities”.

According to a US treasury file on them, Ng was running at least 10 companies in Singapore.

 

[syed putra]

A 2008 chart by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, showing the business network of Myanmar’s heroin king Lo Hsing Han.
Later that same year, OFAC named dozens of individuals and companies as “Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers”, linking them to a network of drug trafficking in Southeast Asia and key exporters of drugs such as methamphetamine, the same drug found on many convicts who have either been executed or are awaiting their execution date after exhausting all appeals.

Of the 26 individuals named by OFAC, one of them, Chou Hsien Cheng, is a Singapore citizen.

A recent check by journalist Han revealed that Chou is linked to two companies, Tet Kham (S) Pte Ltd and Vest Spectrum (S) Pte Ltd, neither of which is believed to still be in existence.

Han however could not establish Chou’s whereabouts or what had become of him.

“It sure doesn’t seem like he’s on death row,” she wrote recently.

“To be clear: I’m not saying that he should be put to death, since I don’t think the death penalty should exist at all, but our ‘zero tolerance’ drug policies don’t make sense if we’re only putting poor ethnic minorities, carrying relatively modest amounts of drugs, to death,” she added.

Ethnic disproportion and crowded death row

In her latest post, Han, who alongside prominent rights lawyer M Ravi has been actively engaging with the families of death row prisoners, said many of them now feared that executions “might be restarted with a vengeance”.

She said about 20 out of 50 death row prisoners now face imminent execution after having exhausted all avenues to avoid the gallows.

“For years, I have heard whispers of a backlog building up. People are now terrified that the prison will pick up the pace of hangings because death row is getting, as families relay to me, ‘too full’,” she said.

Just last week, two death row prisoners, Singaporean Roslan Bakar and Malaysian Pausi Jefridin, who had been scheduled for execution on Feb 16 – more than a decade after they were sentenced to death – were allowed to remain alive through eleventh-hour legal interventions by their lawyers Ravi, Violet Netto and Charles Yeo.

A presidential respite was issued to stay their executions amid an ongoing legal battle.

The duo’s plight is similar to a series of other planned executions in the last few months, such as those of Nagaenthran and fellow Malaysian, Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, and Singaporeans Syed Suhail Syed Zin and Moad Fadzir Mustaffa, all of whom are fighting to stay alive by making full use of their limited space to legal process in the country.

Han also highlighted the fact that an overwhelming majority of those awaiting their day in the execution room share similar economic and ethnic backgrounds, namely Malays and Indians.

In September 2020, MalaysiaNow reported that some 90% of Singapore’s death row prisoners were from these two ethnic communities, who comprise just over 20% of the population.

“Between 2010 and 2021, out of the 77 people sentenced to death (and who had their appeals dismissed), 50 of them were Malay. Many of the prisoners whose cases I have come across have also struggled with poverty, access to education and opportunities, histories of abuse or neglect, drug dependency, or intellectual or psychosocial disabilities,” Han said.

 

[orh mee suah]

The Singapore government also denies involvement in arms trade with Myanmar.

 

[batman1]

The Singapore government also denies involvement in arms trade with Myanmar.

 

[batman1]

How much drug money is deposited in SG Banks ? MAS don't know ?

 

[Leongsam]

Singapore's tough stance against drugs has saved far more lives than it has taken. I applaud the PAP government for not caving in to the West who are in no position to lecture Singapore on how to run a country.

Western society is on its knees because of the proliferation of drugs with many once pleasant and dynamic cities ending up like apocalyptic zombie scenes from a horror movie.

 

[Leongsam]

 

[Leongsam]

Compare the urban decay caused by drugs to the pristine streets of Singapore. Anyone who claims that tough laws don't work is living in some sort of alternative universe.

 

[laksaboy]

“What’s the point of getting the mules? You know these drug lords are just going to find new people to get the drugs.”

What if I tell you the career politicians (or someone affiliated to them) are the drug lords?

You need to hang the mules so the low IQ segments of the population believe the narrative that the govt is tough on drugs, the Lightning Party gets their votes again.

 

[congo9]

Drug .. prostitution are all the

What if I tell you the career politicians (or someone affiliated to them) are the drug lords?

You need to hang the mules so the low IQ segments of the population believe the narrative that the govt is tough on drugs, the Lightning Party gets their votes again.

Unfortunately the Low IQ ones has actually put PAP on the sit for the longest time in the history of Singapore.

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Singapore's tough stance against drugs has saved far more lives than it has taken. I applaud the PAP government for not caving in to the West who are in no position to lecture Singapore on how to run a country.

Western society is on its knees because of the proliferation of drugs with many once pleasant and dynamic cities ending up like apocalyptic zombie scenes from a horror movie.

You are right on this one...I agree..

 

[Hypocrite-The]

Compare the urban decay caused by drugs to the pristine streets of Singapore. Anyone who claims that tough laws don't work is living in some sort of alternative universe.

U need to add in tough laws that are implemented...not implemented is totally useless like 377A

 

[Willamshakespear]

Singapore is a Rule of Law nation. To capture a drug kingpin, CREDIBLE EVIDENCES beyond reasonable doubt are NECESSARY, as they have HUGE funds to pay for legal help & even lobby govts to be lenient to them.

Humanity had seen the scourge of such psychoactive drugs peddled to naive Humanity, & the consequences each nation faces. There are many vices in Humanity, but the worst is psychoactive drugs. Smoking harms the lungs, Alcohol harms the liver, but psychoactive drugs harm the most critical element of life - the mind. All other vices can be easily helped, as such do not warp the mind, but with psychoactive drugs - once the mind is destroyed, it renders one incapable of life, but only to seek the next 'fix', a dependency that will turn one into a barbaric state, killing even one's loved ones - parents, kids, relatives, etc, even for a mere $5 for a few micrograms of those drugs.

Many other nations, saddled with high unemployment rates, would rather surrender to the destruction of Humanity's mind, to stay elected or in power, & thus their 'liberal' attitudes towards such psychoactive drugs, kicking the can down the road, but eventually will harm ALL Humankind mental states, more so in this era of AI dominance.

Our Human brains are FAR MORE capable than ANY AI can be, even thousands of years down the road. Once our mentality is gone, emotionless AI will rule, & being emotionless, it will have disregard of Humanity, in the presumption that AI alone can rule, which is false as AI needs input from Humankind, let alone engineers & techs to maintain it. Once Humanity is wiped out, so too AI & Nature will take over back.

Thus, it is vital that psychoactive drugs be stopped. Many brave & courageous undercover agents, whom only volunteered to fight such to save citizens, kids & loved ones had been sent into drug kingpins strongholds. However, many did not survived, as they are easily found out, being that such orgs are close knitted.

Many of our best were EXECUTED & lay even in UNMARKED graves by the drug kingpins. So WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE AGAINST THE DRUG KINGPINS FOR THEIR OUTRIGHT SLAUGHTER AGAINST INNOCENTS ???? And yet, outrage is pinpointed against brave nations whom made a STAND against such violation of Humanity's mental state?

There are 2 ways to deal with drug kingpins. Either burn down every drug cultivation or drug lab, which sadly is protected by CORRUPTED govt officials, OR we Humankind HANG EVERY MIDDLEMAN in the drug trade. By executing those middle men whom are selfish & care only to enrich themselves AT THE EXPENSE OF INNOCENT kids & others, the Drug Kingpins will eventually have NO one to PEDDLE the drugs for them, & will be forced to sell the drug themselves, from which with POSSESION of such drugs, they will face capital punishment which no Queen's Counsel or Senior Counsel can save them.

 

[syed putra]

Singapore is a Rule of Law nation. To capture a drug kingpin, CREDIBLE EVIDENCES beyond reasonable doubt are NECESSARY, as they have HUGE funds to pay for legal help & even lobby govts to be lenient to them.

As all else, money rules. Its better for cops to close one eye pn these mobsters andnget a cut rather than risk having their family members harmed.

 

[Willamshakespear]

As all else, money rules. Its better for cops to close one eye pn these mobsters andnget a cut rather than risk having their family members harmed.

This is the kind of mentality that will only EVENTUALLY destroy not only the nation & one self, but loved ones as well.

Such actions comes with consequences.

For centuries, Humanity had been warned about bribery, but sadly often ignored. As such, those whom seek to enrich themselves at the expense of others, got richer & richer by 'blindmen', earning vast sums, while the 'blindmen' eventually got poorer & poorer as there no longer exists any functioning State Institutions such as Judiciary, Education, Rule of Law, Economy, etc... that cares about societal advancements as each individual only sought to enrich himself - for a few dollars more that only momentarily resolves financial issues....

Are you afraid to confront Evil ? There are MORE of us than them. They can kill me, but they will NEVER be able to kill ALL of us & hope to live.

 

[syed putra]

This is the kind of mentality that will only EVENTUALLY destroy not only the nation & one self, but loved ones as well.

Such actions comes with consequences.

For centuries, Humanity had been warned about bribery, but sadly often ignored. As such, those whom seek to enrich themselves at the expense of others, got richer & richer by 'blindmen', earning vast sums, while the 'blindmen' eventually got poorer & poorer as there no longer exists any functioning State Institutions such as Judiciary, Education, Rule of Law, Economy, etc... that cares about societal advancements as each individual only sought to enrich himself - for a few dollars more that only momentarily resolves financial issues....

Are you afraid to confront Evil ?

The definition of evil is very complex. I know of cops dating young girls and getting mobsters to pay the bills. When they retire, they meet with some unfortunate accidents. Normally after a drinking sessions. And die.
If you do not bother the mobster, they will not bother you. But they will arrange a drug mule once in a while just to keep the authorities happy to see cops doing their job. These are the guys who are sacrificed, normally poor and under educated, who will eventually be hanged.

 

[Willamshakespear]

The definition of evil is very complex. I know of cops dating young girls and getting mobsters to pay the bills. When they retire, they meet with some unfortunate accidents. Normally after a drinking sessions. And die.
If you do not bother the mobster, they will not bother you. But they will arrange a drug mule once in a while just to keep the authorities happy to see cops doing their job. These are the guys who are sacrificed, normally poor and under educated, who will eventually be hanged.

Thus the need for better EDUCATION & AWARENESS FOR ALL. Being poor or ignorant is NOT a crime, but to assist criminals whom only hurt & harm innocents, it WILL be a crime.

There are societal issues to deal with, especially poverty to be eradicated, & it can only come from (w)holistic education, for each individual to know & differentiate between what will & will not progress loved ones, society & civilization. Such are only SHARED realities by Humanity & Civilization, & needs only courage from each to stand against evil. They are only the few, but WE ARE THE MANY.

 

[syed putra]

Singapore's tough stance against drugs has saved far more lives than it has taken. I applaud the PAP government for not caving in to the West who are in no position to lecture Singapore on how to run a country.

Western society is on its knees because of the proliferation of drugs with many once pleasant and dynamic cities ending up like apocalyptic zombie scenes from a horror movie.

The " atas" mosly chinese community consume drugs but not as lethal as those in the US. Just to get high for the night. The death penalty does not scare the drug barons. Drugs are distributed in dance clubs mostly methamphetamine.
In US i believe its mostly fentanyl nowadays.

 

[Willamshakespear]

The death penalty does not scare the drug barons.

Those drug barons are not afraid of the death penalty only because they have foolish & greedy MIDDLE MEN to do their bidding. Once those MIDDLE MEN are cut out, they WILL have to peddle the drugs themselves & be subjected to the law. In such times, let's see if they are afraid of the death penalty or not.

 

[congo9]

It's not going to end anyway.
Singkie way of viewing things like going to the root of the issue is always shallow and unaware of how dynamic a smallthings could change.
Educate
So some high official has dealing with drug kingpin. So what you want the high ranking official to do??
Ask govt to legalize drug usage so that drugs won't be consume or trafficked in broad daylight.
Send these drug kingpin to meeting their makers, then new kingpin will take over the deceased drug kingpin.

Hang a few drug mules is just a small price to pay. Educate your population and hope that they never gonna touch drugs.