29-year-old Singaporean among 139 arrested in CNB operation spanning May 18 to 30
Singapore’s relentless fight against drugs intensified with a major island-wide operation that saw the arrest of 139 suspects, including a 29-year-old man found with over 2kg of cannabis in a Tampines condo.
Island-Wide Anti-Drug Operation Nets 139 Arrests
Between May 18 and 30, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) launched a sweeping anti-drug operation across various parts of Singapore, including Ang Mo Kio, Jurong, and Bukit Merah. The crackdown led to 139 arrests, including a 14-year-old student — the youngest suspect detained. Seized in total were:
– 3.6kg of heroin
– 2.7kg of cannabis
– 1.3kg of methamphetamine (‘Ice’)
– Smaller amounts of ketamine, ‘Ecstasy’, cocaine, and LSD
– 213 Erimin-5 tablets and 49 vape devices suspected to contain THC
According to CNB, the drugs have a street value exceeding S$626,700 and could feed 2,840 drug abusers for a week.
Major Seizure at Tampines Condo
On May 29, CNB arrested a 29-year-old Singaporean man in the carpark of a condominium near Tampines Street 86. A raid on his hideout uncovered a large drug cache, including:
– 2,104g of cannabis
– 165g of ‘Ice’
– 103g of ketamine
– 37g of ‘Ecstasy’
– 26g of cocaine
– 22 LSD stamps
– 10 Erimin-5 tablets
– 49 THC vape devices
The suspect is being investigated for drug trafficking, a charge that carries the mandatory death penalty if thresholds are exceeded — including 500g for cannabis.
Tuas Arrests Turn Violent
On May 23, five foreign nationals aged 23 to 34 were arrested in Tuas South Avenue for suspected drug offences. Two suspects resisted arrest and had to be subdued with necessary force. A 23-year-old was caught discarding what was believed to be drugs, and another suspect had a small quantity of ‘Ice’. A separate search uncovered 27g of cannabis in a residential lodging, leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old lodger.
Geylang Hotel Raid Yields 2.8kg of Heroin
CNB officers also raided a hotel room at Geylang Lorong 10 on May 28. A 46-year-old man was arrested after he refused to comply with officers, prompting forced entry. The operation yielded a staggering:
– 2,818g of heroin
– 565g of ‘Ice’
– 20g of cannabis
– 24g of ketamine
– 4 Erimin-5 tablets
– S$541.61 in cash
Firm Message From CNB Leadership
Aaron Tang, Director of CNB’s Intelligence Division, reaffirmed the agency’s zero-tolerance approach: “Our message is clear – those who choose to profit from selling drugs will face the full force of CNB’s actions. We will hunt these drug traffickers down to keep Singapore drug-free for our communities.”
Under Singapore law, trafficking in a controlled drug — including offering or preparing to traffic — is a serious offence. Those caught with quantities above specific limits face capital punishment.
This sweeping operation is a stern reminder of Singapore’s strict anti-drug stance, with significant implications for cross-border trafficking involving neighboring countries like Indonesia. With youth involvement and violent resistance on the rise, regional cooperation and awareness are vital to curbing drug proliferation across Southeast Asia.
Sources: Mothership (2025) , Asia One (2025)
Keywords: Cannabis Seizure, Singapore Drug Laws, Tampines Condo Arrest, CNB Anti-Drug Operation, Drug Trafficking Penalty, Controlled Substances Singapore
