65 people arrested in island-wide CNB drug raid

SINGAPORE – A total of 65 suspected drug offenders were arrested in an anti-drug operation from September 9 to 13.

About 954 grams of heroin, 201 grams of ice or methamphetamine, 158 grams of cannabis, 20 grams of ecstasy, 9 grams of ketamine, 428 Erimin-5 tablets and five bottles of a liquid suspected of containing GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) were seized, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said in a statement on September 16.

It was added that the island-wide raid covered areas such as Bedok, Buangkok, Clementi, Geylang Bahru, Marine Parade and Tampines.

The youngest person arrested was a 20-year-old man from Singapore who was suspected of drug trafficking.

Among the 65 arrested were three men, aged 45, 51 and 55, who were arrested on September 11. They were carrying a total of approximately 896 grams of heroin, 146 grams of ice, 43 grams of cannabis, 20 grams of ecstasy, 9 grams of ketamine and 332 Erimin-5 tablets. The drugs have an estimated value of $120,000 and could have fed 510 drug addicts for a week.

Earlier on the same day, CNB officers arrested a 33-year-old man on suspicion of drug trafficking after raiding a residential unit at Bedok North Street 2. They also seized about 123 grams of cannabis and some drug paraphernalia from the apartment.

The investigation is ongoing.

If convicted of trafficking more than 15 g of pure heroin or 500 g of cannabis, the death penalty is mandatory.

CNB seized approximately $15.58 million worth of drugs in 2023, a decrease from the previous year's figure of approximately $16.66 million. Drugs seized in 2023 included 83 kg of heroin and 70.19 kg of cannabis, compared to 68.22 kg and 133.41 kg, respectively, in 2022.