Lifting the Lid: On the Trail of Drug Abusers (Part 1)

GRAPHICS: Arvind Chan. PHOTOS: Joash Tan

In the pre-dawn stillness of a Monday morning, I joined a team of Central Narcotic Bureau (CNB) officers preparing for the day’s mission: To round up suspected drug offenders who buy and sell controlled drugs via messaging applications like Telegram. 

At the pre-operation briefing at CNB HQ, Superintendent (SUPT) William Tan, Senior Assistant Director of Intelligence Operations, explained how drugs were transacted through Telegram chats anonymously. 

“Traffickers and abusers come up with elaborate schemes to arrange for drug transactions, all via the chats and without ever meeting each other,” said SUPT Tan.

The proliferation of mobile messaging apps has led CNB to uncover more such cases. Fortunately, through intelligence networks and extensive investigations, CNB officers can still identify drug offenders who believe they could hide behind their electronic devices.”

Screenshot of one of the Telegram channels.

At 5.30 am, the teams were ready to move out.

Each enforcement operation requires a team of about 10 officers to maintain operational flexibility. A raid comes with unforeseen risks – there was no way of knowing how offenders would react under different circumstances. 

“Suspects would sometimes throw drugs out of their windows and we need all the help we can get to make sure no stone is left unturned," SUPT Tan explained. “Some suspects may run once they see us, or they may become aggressive and uncooperative.”

We set off in the pre-dawn darkness.

I looked out onto the silent streets with few cars on the roads as many still slumbered on, in awe of our officers’ dedication in safekeeping a drug-free Singapore despite the hard work and dangers they have to face in their daily work. 

Arriving at a block in Serangoon at 6.00 am, the team quickly located the suspect’s unit.

Officers walking through the blocks to the suspect’s unit in the early morning darkness.

Conducting these operations at such hours may potentially disturb the neighbours, and CNB officers try to be as discreet as possible. The suspect opened the door and the officers identified themselves before proceeding into the unit to conduct a search. 

This was one of the few raids conducted that morning. I trailed behind the team into the different units, and witnessed the drugs seized as officers split up to search various areas in the suspects' residences. 

Officers searching in various corners of the unit and leading the suspect away.

Methamphethamine or more commonly known as "Ice" seized by CNB officers during the raid. PHOTO: CNB

Officers looking into the most inconspicuous places and recording each item seized.

The suspects rounded up were escorted back to the station for further processing. 

Find out what happens next in Part 2 of the photo feature!

Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill and Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill 2023
The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2023 and the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill 2023 were introduced in Parliament for First Reading on 24 February 2023. To further strengthen our harm reduction approach towards drugs, the Bills propose amendments to introduce a new legislative framework for psychoactive substances and increase punishment for the possession of large quantities of more dangerous and harmful controlled drugs. Read the press release for more details.

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