Teen arrested in Yishun after cannabis plant, cultivation attempts found in CNB raid
Pots of cannabis plants found in a residential unit in the vicinity of Yishun Avenue 3 during a raid conducted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on May 16, 2024. (Photo: CNB)
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SINGAPORE: An 18-year-old who allegedly attempted to cultivate cannabis plants was arrested last week, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said on Monday (May 20).
A pot with a cannabis plant and three pots containing dried-up remnants of cannabis plants were recovered from a cupboard in the Singaporean teen's home in the vicinity of Yishun Avenue 3 where CNB arrested him.Â
"Various drug paraphernalia and plant cultivation paraphernalia including soil and organic compost were also recovered," CNB said in a news release.
Preliminary investigations found that the teen had been attempting to cultivate cannabis plants for about a month.Â
He was among 159 suspected drug offenders who were arrested in an islandwide anti-drug operation carried out by CNB from May 6 to May 17.
The operation covered areas such as Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Batok, Fernvale, Geylang Bahru, Hougang, Pasir Ris, Sembawang, Teck Whye and Yishun.
CNB seized a total of 937g of heroin, 376g of Ice, 161g of cannabis, 6g of ketamine, 102 Yaba tablets, 32 ecstasy tablets, 22 Erimin-5 tablets, one LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) stamp, three bottles of liquid suspected to contain GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and four pots of cannabis plants in the course of the operation.
The drugs seized have an estimated street value of about S$221,000 (US$164,000).
FATHER AND SON ARRESTED
Among those arrested during the operation were a 52-year-old man and his 14-year-old son.
CNB officers raided a residence near Fernvale Road on May 6 where they arrested the duo, who are both Singaporeans.Â
The man was arrested for suspected drug trafficking while his son was arrested for suspected drug consumption. CNB recovered small amounts of Ice and heroin as well as drug paraphernalia from their home.
"Preliminary investigations found that the man had ever given drugs to his son," CNB said.
While raiding another home over suspected drug activities on May 7, CNB officers encountered a one-year-old toddler. The child's mother, a 39-year-old Singaporean, is a suspected drug abuser.
The toddler has since been placed in the care of a close relative of the woman.
Investigations into all arrested suspects are ongoing, CNB said.
In a statement, CNB deputy director of policy and administration Sng Chern Hong reflected on the case of the 14-year-old boy and the arrests of several other young offenders during the operation.
"About two in five of those arrested in this islandwide operation were below 30, with the youngest a drug abuser aged only 14," he said.
"Familial and inter-generational drug abuse contamination are real," he added.
"This is a stark manifestation of the untold harm and destruction brought on by drugs on families and society, which is the core message of the inaugural Drug Victims Remembrance Day and is a reminder that we cannot loosen our zero-tolerance stance against drugs."
Mr Sng also reminded members of the public that it is an offence to cultivate cannabis plants.
Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, those found guilty of cultivating cannabis plants face a minimum of three years in jail, a S$5,000 fine, or both.
