Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested 106 suspected drug offenders in an anti-drug operation from 10 to 18 July 2023. During the operation, controlled drugs of about 223g of cannabis, 54g of heroin, 41g of ‘Ice’, 2g of psilocybin mushrooms with spores, 1g of ketamine, five ‘Ecstasy’ tablets, seven LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) stamps, two bottles of GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and 27 nitrazepam tablets. These drugs have an estimated street value of about $17,200. The youngest arrested in this island-wide operation was a 15-year-old suspected female drug offender, and the oldest arrested was a 73-year-old suspected male drug offender.

2.       Some of the areas covered during this island-wide operation included Boon Lay, Jurong Sengkang, Tampines and Yishun.

13 July 2023: Family of three arrested in the vicinity of Champions Way

3.      In the morning of 13 July, CNB officers arrested a 57-year-old woman, her daughter aged 25 and son aged 21, in a residential unit in the vicinity of Champions Way for suspected drug abuse. All three are Singaporeans. A search was conducted within the unit where drug paraphernalia were recovered. Two young children, aged three and four, were in the unit and appropriate arrangements had to be made to ensure their welfare was taken care of. The children were later placed in the safe custody of their next-of-kin.

18 July 2023: Arrests of youths for suspected drug abuse

4.      In the morning of 18 July, CNB officers arrested a group of six Singaporeans, aged between 21 and 27, for suspected drug offences in a residential unit in the vicinity of Fernvale Lane. About 23g of vegetable matter believed to be cannabis, 1g of ketamine and four LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) stamps were seized from within the unit. Based on preliminary investigations, the youths may have abused drugs together in the unit on other occasions.

5.      In other operations the same day, CNB raided a residential unit and arrested a 23-year-old Singaporean man for suspected drug offences in the vicinity of Jurong West Street 42. About 2g of psilocybin mushrooms with spores, three LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) stamps, 3g of vegetable matter believed to be cannabis and drug paraphernalia were seized from within the unit.

6.      A 17-year-old Singaporean student was also arrested for suspected drug offences in a residential unit in the vicinity of Potong Pasir Avenue 1. During the raid, CNB officers recovered cannabis edibles that the teenager had prepared by sprinkling cannabis onto biscuits. His arrest led to the arrest of two others – both 18-year-old Singaporean students – for suspected drug abuse offences.

Photos 1 – 2 (CNB): Controlled drugs, including psilocybin mushrooms with spores and in the form of cannabis edibles, seized in an island-wide drug operation from 10 to 18 July 2023.

7.      Superintendent Royce Chua, Commanding Officer of CNB Enforcement ‘F’ and ‘L’ Divisions, said of the island-wide operation:

“In our latest island-wide anti-drug operations, CNB arrested groups of youths who are suspected to have been abusing drugs at home or in a friend’s home. In one particular case, a mother was arrested together with her two children for suspected drug abuse.

We urge parents and family members to have early conversations with your children on the harms of drugs, and to learn more about whom they might be spending time with and what they might be doing when they are out, and even when they are at home, so that their children can stay away from drugs and have the opportunity to live their lives to the fullest potential.”

8.      Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, it is an offence for a person to arrange for gatherings for drug abuse, and it is also an offence for the premise owner, tenant or occupier to permit the premises to be used for drug abuse or drug trafficking.

9.      Investigations into all arrested suspects are ongoing.

In a surprising turn of events, Soh Choon Wee, a man who had deserted his national service post with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) over two decades ago, resurfaced in Singapore due to the COVID-19 situation. This incident has led to significant legal ramifications, and Soh’s story is one that brings attention to the importance of fulfilling national obligations. This article delves into the details of Soh’s case, the sentencing arguments presented in court, and the impact of his actions on the broader context of national security and family ties.

The Background

According to CNA, In December 1990, Soh Choon Wee enlisted as a full-time Construction Brigade national serviceman. He was later posted to the Construction Brigade Monitoring Unit at Jalan Bahar Camp to continue his National Service (NS) in October 1992. However, on November 16, 1992, Soh failed to report for NS duty, which led to his arrest by the police at his registered address in March 1993. He was then instructed to report back to camp, but Soh chose to evade arrest and disappeared from official records.

Life in Exile

Rather than facing the consequences of his actions, Soh decided to live in exile. He worked part-time as a handyman until 1998, after which he left Singapore and traveled to Malaysia via the causeway. Subsequently, he settled in the United Kingdom, where he lived and worked in a Chinese restaurant. For 23 years, Soh remained out of sight, disconnected from his family and responsibilities back in Singapore.

The Return to Singapore

In January 2021, over two decades since his desertion, Soh Choon Wee returned to Singapore. The driving force behind his return was the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in the United Kingdom. His mother, worried about his safety, advised him to come back to Singapore. Additionally, Soh expressed a deep longing to be reunited with his family, especially as his parents were getting older. Upon his return, he was placed on a stay-home notice for several weeks before being arrested by the SCDF for desertion from NS.

The Sentencing Arguments

During the court proceedings, the prosecution argued for a severe sentence, recommending seven-and-a-half to eight-and-a-half years’ jail for Soh. They highlighted the prolonged desertion period, his evasion of arrest, and the fact that his age now made it impossible for him to fulfill his NSF obligations. On the other hand, Soh’s defense lawyer, Wee Hong Shern, sought a more lenient sentence, requesting four to five years’ jail. He emphasized that Soh believed he was given a chance to leave Singapore in 1998 without facing consequences.

Soh’s Health Challenges

Soh Choon Wee’s defense also shed light on his client’s health challenges. In March 2021, Soh suffered a stroke that required immediate medical attention, and he underwent an operation for it. Furthermore, he was also coping with kidney failure, necessitating dialysis treatments three times a week. These health issues, according to the defense, made serving a lengthy jail term an immense physical and emotional burden for Soh.

The Court’s Decision

Despite considering Soh’s clean record during the period of desertion and his voluntary return, the judge handed down a stern sentence. Soh received a six-and-a-half-year jail term, believed to be the longest ever given for such a desertion offense. The judge deemed Soh’s personal circumstances insufficient to warrant a more lenient sentence, as the importance of National Service to Singapore’s security and the sacrifices of NSmen and their families cannot be understated.

I want to share with everyone about a credit card scam incident that involved the UOB PPV card which I signed up recently for my overseas use. It seems scammers have level up again.

I had used the card by inserting it into my phone as per the terms and conditions of UOB orchard privilege banking of the card to make contactless transactions and payment in Christchurch and somehow, a mysterious transaction of ~$35 was placed in Auckland where I was no where even remotely near the location.

When I contacted UOB Raffles Place,singapore to dispute the charges and make a police report, they told me that they cannot do anything about as I quote “the transaction was made with the mobile contactless via paywave with the same phone I used for my other transactions” but when I checked the merchant name as stated on the bank statement as attached, it listed as Southpark which does not even have a physical store in Auckland. It is listed in Malaysia as their physical store via google. And all my previous transactions were in Christchurch where I am currently at.

This incident seemed to be unique because I had use my mobile to make payment from my mobile phone all the time with that card wherever I was and somehow the hackers were able to clone the card AND phone details to make fraudulent transactions too regardless of whether we use the physical card or the mobile contactless.

This indicates that the latest technologies used by cloners have upgraded to even clone mobile contactless device ID to make payments and I urge everyone to be aware of this when even making mobile contactless payment.

Take note of this from UOB as now I am stuck with a locked mobile banking thanks to UOB and how the bank has been unhelpful to even assist. Hence consider rethinking if that’s the bank for you in times when you lose hundreds or thousands of dollars it as they will push it all around like tai chi to avoid responsibility.