JOHOR, MALAYSIA – A 47-year-old man from Singapore, identified as Tan Ban Choon, has been charged with trafficking a substantial amount of drugs in Johor, Malaysia, which could result in the death penalty if he is convicted.
Court documents reveal that Tan is accused of trafficking 10,024 grams of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) powder. In addition to this serious charge, he faces four other counts related to drug possession, including 9 grams of heroin, 44 grams of cannabis, 6 grams of MDMA powder, and 31.3 grams of ketamine.
Details of the Arrest
Tan was taken into custody during a police operation at an apartment in Danga Bay, Johor Bahru, on the evening of April 23, 2025. His arrest was part of a larger crackdown that resulted in the apprehension of four other individuals across various locations in Johor, including Batu Pahat, Kota Tinggi, and Kluang.
Authorities discovered that Tan had a previous criminal history and was found with a counterfeit identification document at the time of his arrest.
Potential Legal Ramifications
Under Malaysian law, the penalties for drug trafficking can be severe. If convicted, Tan could face the death penalty or life imprisonment, along with a mandatory whipping of at least 15 strokes. For the possession charges, he may incur a fine of up to RM100,000 (approximately S$30,000), a maximum prison sentence of five years, or both. Additionally, if found guilty of possessing cannabis, he could face a jail term ranging from two to five years, along with a possible caning of three to nine strokes.
Tan did not have legal representation during his initial court appearance, and he was denied bail. The case is scheduled to resume on July 7, pending the results of a chemical analysis of the seized drugs.
This incident underscores the stringent laws surrounding drug trafficking in Malaysia, particularly for foreign nationals, and the serious consequences that can arise from such offenses.