CNB officers carry out arrests to stamp out drug trafficking and abuse in Singapore. As the nature of drug operations are dynamic and can be unpredictable, the team needs to be well-prepared for all potential scenarios and prevent situations from escalating.
Motivated by greed, drug traffickers who prey on abusers’ addiction to fuel their profits may resort to violence to evade arrests from the authorities. In some cases, suspects could be high on drugs and turn violent. In such situations, officers may have to use necessary force to prevent the suspects from harming others or themselves, and arrest suspects who forcibly resist arrest or have committed offences.
Securing evidence
During raids, CNB officers will collect evidence and document the events linked to the arrest to help with investigations in the presence of suspects. Under Section 24 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, officers may seize and detain any drug, substance that the officer reasonably suspects are controlled drugs or substances, and or any article that the officer reasonably suspects is an article liable to seizure.
Maintaining the integrity of evidence
To preserve the integrity and admissibility of evidence, CNB officers exercise due diligence to ensure that evidence is properly collated and handled. Tamper-proof evidence bags and strict protocols are adhered to in securing the evidence.
Evidence collated could include:
- Drugs/substances seized;
- Memory cards where pictures are taken, for documentation;
- Mobile phones or electronic devices recovered from suspects; and
- Detailed recording of events including when case exhibits are passed between officers for processing
CNB officers must ensure that the scene is not contaminated, and important evidence is preserved. Some of the measures taken include:
- Wearing gloves and facial masks at the scene during searches and handling of drug exhibits; and
- Avoid sneezing or coughing at the drug exhibit or at drug scene.
CNB officers are equipped with portable devices to screen suspicious exhibits for controlled substances. Saliva test kits are deployed as field-testing screening tools for detection of the consumption of illicit drugs. CNB officers may subject suspects to a urine test directly without going through a saliva test first, or even if a saliva test returns negative, if there is indication of drug abuse or based on officers’ assessment of the situation and information available.
Furthermore, officers may examine fingerprints at the scene with the use of fingerprint powders and lifters amongst other equipment.
Post-raid
The suspected drug offender along with the seized evidence will be escorted to CNB’s office in an operational vehicle for further investigations.
CNB officers will conduct physical and digital forensic investigations on the case exhibits seized. Amongst other tests to detect the presence of drugs, technology such as the IONSCAN machine is used. For confirmatory testing, drug exhibits are sent to the Health Sciences Authority for analysis. DNA may be collected to determine who had contact with the exhibits.
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