Two brothers, 17 and 25, arrested for suspected drug activities conducted via Telegram

Drugs with estimated street value of $124,000 seized during duo's arrest

Some of the controlled drugs and drug paraphernalia recovered from a 17-year-old student in the vicinity of Jurong West Street 93 in a CNB operation conducted on 10 January 2023. (PHOTO: CNB)
Some of the controlled drugs and drug paraphernalia recovered from a 17-year-old student in the vicinity of Jurong West Street 93 in a CNB operation conducted on 10 January 2023. (PHOTO: CNB)

SINGAPORE — Two brothers - a 17-year-old student and his 25-year-old sibling - were arrested by Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers for suspected drug activities on Tuesday (10 January).

CNB said in a media release on Thursday that drugs with an estimated street value of $124,000 were seized during the Singaporean duo's arrest.

They include 1,073 grams of cannabis, 85g of "Ice", 43g of ketamine, 310g of Ecstasy tablets, 538 Erimin-5 tablets and 198 LSD stamps.

CNB said its officers arrested the student around Jurong West Street 93 on Tuesday evening. They recovered about 446g of cannabis, 18g of "Ice", 5g of ketamine, 5g of Ecstasy tablets, 90 Ermin-5 tablets and various drug paraphernalia from the teenager.

He was escorted to his residence in the same vicinity, and his brother was arrested within the unit.

About 627g of cannabis, 67g of "Ice", 38g of ketamine, 305g of Ecstasy tablets, 448 Erimin-5 tablets and 198 LSD stamps were seized from the residential unit.

Investigations into the drug activities are ongoing.

Transactions might have been conducted on Telegram

Preliminary investigations revealed that the controlled drugs seized may be linked to drug transactions conducted on Telegram.

CNB said it is aware that some drug offenders and syndicates have been leveraging on encrypted messaging applications like Telegram to conduct their drug activities.

"These drug offenders may think that such applications can offer them a certain level of anonymity to carry out their illegal activities, and evade CNB’s surveillance," it said in the media release.

"CNB is monitoring such developments closely, and has been taking regular enforcement actions against drug offenders who use the Telegram platform for their activities.

"Regardless of the platform or tactics used in an attempt to evade detection, there is no safe haven for drug offenders in Singapore."

Members of the public who would like to report on suspicious drug-related activities may submit it to CNA's website, or call the CNB hotline at 1800-3256666.

Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube.

Yahoo Singapore Telegram
Yahoo Singapore Telegram