A Singaporean man and three other associates have been arrested by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) in South Korea for their involvement in trafficking and sale of drugs. According to an official new release from the Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore on December 14, the four were nabbed on April 9, 2023.
Among his three associates are two Singaporean women and one woman of foreign nationality, CNB said. The man has been identified as a 37-year-old, who left the country on November 12, 2021.
He has been listed as a suspect involved in “coordinating and supplying drugs to associates in Singapore for their subsequent trafficking and sale in Singapore using encrypted chat applications”.
Speaking about the operation that led to the arrest of the gang, CNB said they reached out to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the SMPA for a joint investigation.
More trial awaiting
The man and his foreign associate were sentenced to jail after being charged with drug-related offences. Following the completion of his term, South Korea, CNB, NIS and SMPA will work together to facilitate the 37-year-old’s repatriation.
Once in Singapore, he’ll face further investigations from authorities.
Appreciating the operation, SAC Leon Chan, Deputy Director of CNB for Operations, said: “Drug trafficking is cross-border issue that affects many countries, and traffickers increasingly use encrypted chat applications to advertise the sale of drugs to new clients and to arrange for the delivery of the drugs.”
“The successful arrest in this case is testament to the good relationship and close cooperation between CNB, NIS and SMPA in tackling the transnational nature of drug trafficking. For drug syndicate leaders and members who choose to feed their greed by bringing harm to our people in Singapore, CNB will spare no efforts to bring them to face justice in Singapore.” Chan added.