19-9-2024 (BANGKOK) A 28-year-old Singaporean man is set to be extradited from Thailand to face serious drug trafficking charges that could potentially lead to the death penalty in his home country.
Benny Kee Soon Chuan, the suspect in question, was apprehended on Tuesday, 17 September, in his residence in Samut Prakan province, central Thailand. The arrest comes after an extensive investigation into his alleged involvement in a transnational drug trafficking network, as reported by the Bangkok Post and The Nation.
According to Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Kee had been using the country as a base of operations for distributing methamphetamine, ketamine, and ecstasy to Australia and Singapore. Thai authorities further revealed that Kee was wanted by Singaporean law enforcement in connection with two separate drug smuggling cases dating back to 2021 and 2022.
In a brazen attempt to evade detection, Kee reportedly entered Thailand earlier this year using a passport from Vanuatu, a small island nation in the South Pacific. However, his visa has since been revoked following his arrest.
The suspect’s lavish lifestyle in Thailand did not go unnoticed by authorities. During the raid on his rented accommodation, police seized 26 items, including a luxury vehicle, gold jewellery, designer watches, and high-end handbags. The total value of the confiscated assets is estimated at 15 million baht (approximately S$580,000).
Under Singapore’s strict Misuse of Drugs Act, individuals found guilty of trafficking, offering to traffic, or preparing to traffic controlled substances face severe penalties. The law mandates capital punishment for those convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis, 250 grams of methamphetamine, or 15 grams of heroin.
