CNB Seized Drugs That Are Worth Over $2.3 Million; Said Drug Situation is ‘Worsening’

In a country like Singapore, where sentences for drug offenders are as severe as an end to bubble tea, you’d have to be a madman to sneak drugs into the country.

But there are quite a few madmen roaming about, it seems.

CNB Seized Drugs That Are Worth Over $2.3 Million

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) recently seized drugs worth more than S$2.3 million, breaking two unwanted records.

The 23kg of cannabis seized is CNB’s largest since 1996, while the 16kg heroin haul is its biggest since 2001.

In a raid conducted last Friday afternoon, a 22-year-old Malaysian man was arrested in the vicinity of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, with four bundles containing about 3,915g of cannabis found in his possession.

Then, when officers brought the man back to his hideout in the same area, they searched his residential unit and found the following drugs:

• 23,687g of cannabis
• 16,548g of heroin
• 2,033g of Ice
• 110 ecstasy tablets

CNB said the amount of drugs seized in the operation is sufficient to feed 7,800 heroin abusers, 1,160 Ice abusers, and 3,380 cannabis abusers for a week.

Investigations into the drug activities of the suspect are ongoing.

Drug Situation is ‘Worsening’

The quantity of drugs alone isn’t the only concern, Deputy Director of CNB (Policy and Administration) Sng Chern Hong said, as the global and regional situation is worsening.

“It is concerning regardless of quantity of drugs seized. But to put things in context, the fact is that internationally or regionally, the drug situation is worsening. So, Singapore, we are monitoring the situation very closely,” he said.

Surprisingly, there hasn’t been a significant change in demand in Singapore since the pandemic hit.

“If you look at the drug stats we released earlier this year, in fact in terms of drug abusers arrested, there is a drop compared to last year but that is also partly because of (the) COVID (pandemic),” Sng said.

Fewer Drug Offenders in 2020, But Many of them are Young

While there were fewer drug offenders in 2020, many of them were new abusers and offenders younger than 30 years of age.

Around 38% of those arrested last year were new abusers, with about three in five of them under 30 years old.

Drug abusers under 30 also accounted for 41% of all drug abusers arrested last year. Most of them were aged between 20 and 29.

Celebrations over the fewer drug arrest may be premature, however, as the pandemic likely affected their operations, with reduced movement across Singapore’s borders.

Nevertheless, the CNB has been not been given any time to rest.

Just last month, the agency seized nearly S$1.7 million worth of drugs, including more than 20kg of cannabis.

Three Singaporean men, aged between 27 and 33, were arrested in the operation.

Featured Image: CNB