A 31-year-old Singaporean man, who was wanted for suspected drug trafficking, has been arrested by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) after being deported from Thailand.
The man, identified as Benny Kee Soon Chuan by Thai media, was apprehended by Thai authorities on Tuesday and subsequently handed over to the CNB. He is expected to be charged with drug trafficking offenses on Friday.
According to the CNB, the man’s suspected involvement in drug trafficking was uncovered during investigations into two separate drug trafficking cases in December 2020 and November 2022. The accused individuals in those cases, two Singaporeans aged 21 and 29 at the time of their arrest, were charged with trafficking substantial amounts of methamphetamine.
The 21-year-old was sentenced to 22.5 years’ imprisonment with 15 strokes of the cane, while the 29-year-old received an eight-year jail term with seven strokes of the cane.
An arrest warrant was issued for the 31-year-old, but he had been out of Singapore since April 11, 2016. The CNB then collaborated with foreign counterparts to track him down, leading to his arrest in Thailand.
Thai authorities reportedly found the man living in luxury in Samut Prakan province, despite having no reported means of employment or income. He allegedly sent drugs such as Ice, ketamine, and ecstasy from Thailand to Singapore and Australia via international mail.
Assets worth approximately US$453,000, including Rolex watches, gold chains, rings, amulets, and cash in various currencies, were seized from the man, who is believed to have entered Thailand on a Vanuatu passport.
The CNB is continuing to investigate other members of the syndicate, and has expressed gratitude to its Thai counterparts for their cooperation in bringing the suspect back to Singapore to face justice.
“Drug syndicates often exploit global interconnectivity to operate remotely, posing threats that extend far beyond borders and have a profound impact on the safety and security of our local community,” said CNB Acting Director Leon Chan.