36 arrested in CNB operation targeting drug activities carried out using Telegram, other chat apps

Thirty-six people were arrested in a Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) operation on April 2 targeting drug activities carried out using chat applications such as Telegram.

About 333g of cannabis, 13g of Ice, 5g of ketamine, a gram of heroin, 42 Erimin-5 tablets, two Ecstasy tablets and 65 vaping devices suspected to contain tetrahydrocannabinol estimated to be worth about $19,000 in total were seized.

In one case, a 32-year-old Singaporean female suspected drug trafficker was arrested in her Compassvale Drive home. A search of her bedroom recovered about 123g of cannabis and various drug paraphernalia.

In another case, a 26-year-old Singaporean male suspected drug trafficker was arrested in his Bedok North Street 3 home where about 107g of cannabis and various drug paraphernalia were found.

Investigations are ongoing.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Aaron Tang, who is CNB's Director of Intelligence, said: “Those who think they can carry out their drug activities with impunity by using chat applications such as Telegram will do well to think again.

"CNB will not be deterred from carrying out enforcement action against such drug offenders simply because of the anonymity offered by such chat applications. In fact, we will redouble our efforts to track them down and bring them in, whatever the applications they are using.”