A 29-year-old man was arrested after police found suspected controlled substances, a vaporiser and several offensive weapons inside a van parked along Yishun Street 31 in the early hours of 13 August.
The incident took place at about 5.05am outside the multi-storey car park at Block 333. Police were called to the location and found the man asleep in the driver’s seat of the van.
Officers subsequently discovered suspected illegal items, a vaporiser and an assortment of weapons, including knuckledusters and karambits. The man was arrested in connection with several suspected offences.
Police Discover Items Inside Parked Van
According to local media reports, a resident noticed multiple police vehicles and the van parked along the roadside at around 7am. Officers were seen removing various items from the vehicle and placing them nearby while documenting potential evidence.
At least four police vehicles and a Crime Scene Investigation vehicle were reportedly at the scene. A police presence remained in the area for several hours as officers carried out their investigations.
The van was parked beside a construction site on a two-way road, with construction workers helping to direct traffic while the police operation was underway.
The vehicle was reportedly rented through LoadUp, a van rental platform. The company later told reporters that it could not comment while the police investigation was ongoing.
Police confirmed that officers had responded to a call for assistance at the location. After waking the man in the driver’s seat, they conducted checks that led to the discovery of the suspected illegal items and weapons.
Police Dogs Deployed During Investigation
The man was arrested for suspected offences involving possession of offensive weapons, driving while under the influence of drugs, as well as suspected drug-related and vaporiser-related offences.
The suspected drug-related offences have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau, while the suspected vaporiser-related offences have been referred to the Health Sciences Authority for further investigation.
Police officers reportedly remained at the scene for more than four hours. Police dogs were also deployed during the operation, with residents reporting that they saw the animals around the van at about 8am.
By around 9am, several police vehicles and the Crime Scene Investigation vehicle had left the area, although one police car and two officers reportedly remained behind.
A tow truck arrived at approximately 9.20am and subsequently removed the van from the roadside.
Van Reportedly Damaged During Incident
The van was also observed to have damage on its right side, including a dent. Black scratches were reportedly visible on the driver’s door, which appeared unable to close properly.
A resident told local media that he had seen officers searching the van but was unable to make out the details clearly from his apartment.
The police investigation remains ongoing, and the authorities have not disclosed further details about the suspected substances or the circumstances leading up to the man’s arrest.
The case also highlights the serious legal consequences associated with possessing prohibited items, offensive weapons and driving while under the influence of controlled substances in Singapore. Depending on the findings of the investigation, the man could potentially face additional charges.