65 arrests in island-wide anti-drug operation by CNB

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

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

He added that the island-wide sweep covered areas including Bedok, Buangkok, Clementi, Geylang Bahru, Marine Parade and Tampines.

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

Among the 65 people arrested, three men – aged 45, 51 and 55 – were apprehended on September 11 with a total of approximately 896g of heroin, 146g of Ice, 43g of cannabis, 20g of Ecstasy, 9g of ketamine and 332 Erimin-5 tablets. The value of the drugs is estimated at $120,000 and could have fed 510 addicts for a week.

Earlier today, CNB officers arrested a 33-year-old man on suspicion of drug trafficking after raiding a residential unit in Bedok North Street 2. They also seized about 123g of cannabis and drug paraphernalia from the unit.

Investigations are ongoing.

Those convicted of trafficking more than 15g of pure heroin or 500g of cannabis face the mandatory death penalty.

In 2023, the CNB seized drugs worth about $15.58 million, down from $16.66 million worth of drugs seized the previous year. Among the drugs seized in 2023 were 83 kg of heroin and 70.19 kg of cannabis, compared to 68.22 kg and 133.41 kg, respectively, in 2022.