CNB weeds out cannabis trafficker - 15 clients including foreign nationals arrested in 18-hour blitz
07 Sep 2011
In an 18-hour blitz which started on 6 September 2011, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested a 37-year-old drug trafficker, his associate and rounded up 15 of his drug clients in one fell swoop. The suspected drug trafficker, a male Singapore Permanent Resident (PR), was believed to be peddling cannabis mainly to youths and expatriates studying in international schools and working here. The 15 drug clients arrested are between 13 and 25 years of age, and include Singaporeans as well as foreign nationals from 8 different countries.
In the course of the operation, officers recovered a total drug seizure amounting to approximately 69 grammes of cannabis.
Arrest of the Suspected Drug Trafficker
For more than five months, CNB has been monitoring the suspected cannabis trafficker who has been peddling drugs from his residence in Ang Mo Kio to his clientele, which include foreign youths and expatriates.
On 6 September 2011, CNB launched an operation to arrest the suspected drug trafficker and his drug clients. In the early hours of 7 September 2011, CNB officers arrested him at a covered walkway in Ang Mo Kio. CNB officers found a packet of cannabis weighing approximately two grammes on him. CNB officers then raided his residence in Ang Mo Kio and recovered an additional 23 grammes of cannabis after a search of the premises. His Singaporean associate was also arrested in an apartment in the city area, with about 32 grammes of cannabis found in his apartment.
Arrest of 15 Suspected Drug Abusers including Foreign Nationals
Following the trafficker’s arrest, in the morning of 7 September 2011, CNB officers rounded up 15 persons, suspected to be his drug clients, at their homes and other places, on suspicion of drug consumption. Four of the suspected drug abusers are Singaporean/PR, aged from 16 to 22 while 11 are foreign nationals. The youngest suspected drug abuser rounded up is a 13-year-old and the oldest is a 25-year-old local university student. The majority are male youths, between 16 and 21 years of age (see Table 1 for details).
Preliminary investigations also indicate that several of the trafficker’s clients are common friends who may have abused drugs together. A total of about 12 grammes of cannabis was seized from this group.
Penalties
The drug trafficker will be investigated for trafficking in a controlled drug. If charged and convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane.
All other offenders suspected of consumption, possession or trafficking in a controlled drug will be investigated further.
Director CNB, Mr Huang Wen Yi (Ng Boon Gay), commended his officers for the professionalism shown during the operation and said, “This operation illustrates our zero-tolerance stance towards illegal drugs in Singapore. Regardless of the person’s nationality, we will not tolerate anyone abusing drugs in Singapore, and worse, contaminating others. Those who think otherwise are mistaken, and CNB will not hesitate to take action against them.”
ISSUED BY
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
07 Sep 2011
In an 18-hour blitz which started on 6 September 2011, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested a 37-year-old drug trafficker, his associate and rounded up 15 of his drug clients in one fell swoop. The suspected drug trafficker, a male Singapore Permanent Resident (PR), was believed to be peddling cannabis mainly to youths and expatriates studying in international schools and working here. The 15 drug clients arrested are between 13 and 25 years of age, and include Singaporeans as well as foreign nationals from 8 different countries.
In the course of the operation, officers recovered a total drug seizure amounting to approximately 69 grammes of cannabis.
Arrest of the Suspected Drug Trafficker
For more than five months, CNB has been monitoring the suspected cannabis trafficker who has been peddling drugs from his residence in Ang Mo Kio to his clientele, which include foreign youths and expatriates.
On 6 September 2011, CNB launched an operation to arrest the suspected drug trafficker and his drug clients. In the early hours of 7 September 2011, CNB officers arrested him at a covered walkway in Ang Mo Kio. CNB officers found a packet of cannabis weighing approximately two grammes on him. CNB officers then raided his residence in Ang Mo Kio and recovered an additional 23 grammes of cannabis after a search of the premises. His Singaporean associate was also arrested in an apartment in the city area, with about 32 grammes of cannabis found in his apartment.
Arrest of 15 Suspected Drug Abusers including Foreign Nationals
Following the trafficker’s arrest, in the morning of 7 September 2011, CNB officers rounded up 15 persons, suspected to be his drug clients, at their homes and other places, on suspicion of drug consumption. Four of the suspected drug abusers are Singaporean/PR, aged from 16 to 22 while 11 are foreign nationals. The youngest suspected drug abuser rounded up is a 13-year-old and the oldest is a 25-year-old local university student. The majority are male youths, between 16 and 21 years of age (see Table 1 for details).
Preliminary investigations also indicate that several of the trafficker’s clients are common friends who may have abused drugs together. A total of about 12 grammes of cannabis was seized from this group.
Penalties
The drug trafficker will be investigated for trafficking in a controlled drug. If charged and convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and 15 strokes of the cane.
All other offenders suspected of consumption, possession or trafficking in a controlled drug will be investigated further.
Director CNB, Mr Huang Wen Yi (Ng Boon Gay), commended his officers for the professionalism shown during the operation and said, “This operation illustrates our zero-tolerance stance towards illegal drugs in Singapore. Regardless of the person’s nationality, we will not tolerate anyone abusing drugs in Singapore, and worse, contaminating others. Those who think otherwise are mistaken, and CNB will not hesitate to take action against them.”
ISSUED BY
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
.
