14-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) A Singaporean national, wanted on charges of drug trafficking in Singapore, has been apprehended and imprisoned in Seoul, South Korea, where he played a pivotal role in a multinational narcotics syndicate operating on the encrypted messaging platform Telegram.
The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore announced on Thursday (Dec 14) that the 37-year-old suspect was detained in Seoul on April 9.
While the CNB refrained from specifying the commencement date of his seven-year prison term, it confirmed the individual’s impending repatriation to Singapore after serving his sentence in South Korea. The CNB also stated its intention to conduct further investigations into the suspect’s alleged drug-related activities within Singapore.
In a press release, the CNB asserted, “The 37-year-old man is suspected to be involved in coordinating and supplying drugs to associates in Singapore for their subsequent trafficking and sale in Singapore using encrypted chat applications.”
South Korean media, referencing a statement from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, reported that the 37-year-old headed a multinational drug network based in Seoul. This network distributed narcotics to Singapore and Vietnam through the Telegram platform.
According to The Chosun Ilbo, the suspect utilized the chat platform to promote drugs and collaborated with associates in Singapore to alter the appearance of the drugs, transforming them into alternate forms like candy or jellies.
This incident marks the first instance where local authorities in South Korea have exposed a foreign network operating within the country that sells drugs internationally using Telegram.
The CNB revealed that three of the suspect’s associates, comprising two Singaporean women and another woman of foreign nationality, were also detained in South Korea. Immigration records indicated that the suspect had departed Singapore since November 12, 2021.
Responding to queries from CNA regarding the legal consequences for the two Singaporean women, the CNB cited ongoing investigations as the reason for its inability to comment. However, it confirmed that the other woman had received a jail sentence in South Korea.
The CNB initiated joint investigations with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) upon receiving intelligence that the suspect had established a base in South Korea. The arrest was a culmination of South Korea’s crackdown on cyber drug crimes, according to local media.
Deputy Director of CNB for Operations, SAC Leon Chan, emphasized the significance of international collaboration in combating cross-border drug trafficking, stating, “The successful arrest in this case is a testament to the good relationship and close cooperation between CNB, NIS, and SMPA in tackling the transnational nature of drug trafficking. For drug syndicate leaders and members who choose to feed their greed by bringing harm to our people in Singapore, CNB will spare no efforts to bring them to face justice in Singapore.”
