2-9-2024 (SINGAPORE) Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has apprehended two individuals following a raid on a residential property in Bedok North. The operation, which took place on Friday, 30 August, resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illegal substances with an estimated street value of $343,000.
According to a statement released by the CNB on Monday, 2 September, officers targeted a flat in the vicinity of Bedok North Avenue 4. The raid led to the arrest of a 38-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man on suspicion of drug-related activities.
The haul from the operation was considerable, with authorities confiscating approximately 2.8 kilograms of heroin, 385 grams of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as ‘Ice’), 51 grams of MDMA (ecstasy), 24 grams of cannabis, 9 grams of ketamine, and 13 Emirin-5 tablets. Officials estimate that this quantity of narcotics could sustain the habits of roughly 1,550 drug users for a week.
The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated, as the suspects now face the possibility of capital punishment. Under Singapore’s strict drug laws, if found guilty of trafficking more than 15 grams of diamorphine (pure heroin), both individuals could be subject to the mandatory death penalty.
This recent bust comes against the backdrop of Singapore’s ongoing battle against drug abuse. The 2023 drug situation report, published earlier this year, highlighted that methamphetamine, heroin, and cannabis remain the most commonly abused substances in the city-state. The report revealed that a staggering 94% of individuals arrested for drug offences were found to have used at least one of these three drugs.
While the total value of drugs seized by the CNB in 2023 showed a marginal decrease to $15.37 million from $16.66 million in the previous year, authorities noted a worrying trend in the number of drug abusers arrested. The figures for 2023 indicated a 10% increase compared to 2022, with a particularly concerning statistic emerging: more than half of the new abusers detained were under the age of 30.
