Kwan Jun Yan, a 23-year-old individual, has been handed a stern sentence of 13 years imprisonment and eight strokes of the cane on August 4, 2023, for consuming and trafficking cannabis (also known as marijuana, weed, ganja) when he was still in polytechnic in 2017.
Kwan Jun Yan’s journey into the world of cannabis consumption and trafficking began during his time as an 18-year-old polytechnic student.
Driven by a need for quick cash to fuel his seemingly “extravagant expenses,” which included soccer betting, cigarettes, and liquor, Kwan turned to his supplier, for a “job” to make some quick money.
In a series of events that underscore the influence of peer pressure and misguided perceptions, Kwan’s involvement with cannabis commenced in April 2017.
Introduced to the substance by a friend, he was captivated by the allure of its perceived “coolness” and he smoked weed wanting to look cool and impress people.
As Kwan’s financial needs grew more pressing, he made the fateful decision to approach his cannabis supplier for employment, seeking a means to earn quick money.
Concurrently, he resumed his cannabis consumption. His supplier proposed a proposition: assist in the collection and delivery of cannabis to clients in exchange for a significant share of the profits, which he then agreed.
Kwan’s trafficking operation came to a screeching halt on July 11, 2018. He was apprehended by officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) while in possession of a substantial quantity of cannabis. The arrest took place as Kwan awaited instructions from his supplier.
The legal proceedings found Kwan Jun Yan guilty on counts of trafficking cannabis and consuming a cannabinol derivative. He was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment and 8 strokes of the cane. The sentencing takes into account the substantial quantity of drugs trafficked—329.99g of cannabis—and underscores Singapore’s strict stance on drug-related offenses.
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