Drug arrests at checkpoints surge by over 50% in 2025 as ICA, CNB ramp up operations

ICA and CNB said the jump is in part due to the 1,417 joint operations held by the Home Team agencies at the checkpoints in 2025, a 34% increase compared to the 1,053 in 2024.

ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW

Published Sep 29, 2026, 06:00 PM

Updated Sep 29, 2026, 06:00 PM

Drug arrests at Singapore checkpoints rose by over 50% in 2025, with 975 arrests made due to increased operations and the persistent drug threat at the borders.

Joint efforts by ICA and CNB included 1,417 operations, using X-ray scanners and drug detectors to identify high-risk travellers and cargo.

The New Clearance Concept and Integrated Targeting Centre improved targeted checks and officer training, enhancing effectiveness in detecting drug smuggling attempts at borders.

SINGAPORE - The number of drug arrests at the checkpoints have surged, with the authorities saying drug traffickers have been trying new ways to avoid detection.

On Sept 29, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said they made 975 drug-related arrests at the checkpoints in 2025, which is an increase of about 53% compared to 635 in 2024.

The cases were for drug importation, possession and consumption, with the drugs often found hidden within personal belongings or vehicular compartments.

They added it was also due to the evolving drug threat, with traffickers adapting their methods and exploring new ways to evade detection.

In July 2025, over 25kg of cocaine was found hidden inside stuffed toys carried in the luggage belonging to a group of women at Changi Airport Terminal 4’s transit area.

The bust followed the exchange of intelligence between CNB and the Narcotics Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force, which resulted in five women being arrested.

On Sept 23, ICA officers at Tuas Checkpoint found 9kg of drugs disguised as sealed commercial biscuit packets .

The drugs were found hidden in the storage box of a Malaysia-registered motorcycle, which saw the Malaysian rider getting arrested .

A Singaporean man was arrested that day in relation to the smuggling attempt, after officers found 1.5kg of drugs in a follow-up operation in Tampines.

According to the World Drug Report 2025 , drug abuse has reached an all-time high.

But the overall situation in Singapore remains stable , with 3,208 drug abusers arrested here in 2025, and 3,175 in 2024.

ICA and CNB said they combine technology, intelligence and enforcement expertise to safeguard Singapore’s borders.

On Sept 29, Checkpoint Inspector Muhamed Salmin Mohamed Sadli, the group leader of an ICA search and examination team at Woodlands Command, spoke to the media after a joint operation at Woodlands Checkpoint .

He said detection efforts involve both profiling by officers on the ground and enhanced targeting by the Integrated Targeting Centre.

The centre, which was set up to support ICA’s New Clearance Concept that was implemented in 2024 , has been using information and data analytics to identify higher risk travellers, vehicles and cargo.

Arriving travellers and vehicles are referred for enhanced checks, allowing for a more targeted approach.

Muhamed Salmin said: “We are also trained to identify tell-tale signs, such as travellers’ body language, as well as signs of modifications in vehicles, and sieve them out for further checks.”

Some of the technologies used at the checkpoints include X-ray scanners, explosive and narcotic trace detectors, saliva test kits and drug identification kits that show test results within minutes.

Separately, the New Clearance Concept has allowed ICA officers to be redeployed from manual counter duties to higher-value functions such as profiling and conducting targeted interviews and investigations.

They are trained through role-play, gamification, simulation and small-group discussions.

This is aided by technologies such as 3D renderings of different vehicles, allowing them to more effectively learn about concealment areas and their tell-tale indicators of the different models.

Guo Jingwen, Deputy Commanding Officer of CNB’s Enforcement L Division, said wider drug trafficking activities are disrupted through follow-up action beyond just the checkpoints.

He said: “When a suspected drug case is detected at a checkpoint, CNB will assess and follow up on relevant leads. This may lead to further investigations, arrests and drug seizures inland.

“We remind Singapore citizens and permanent residents that consuming controlled drugs overseas remains an offence under Singapore law.”

David Sun is The Straits Times’ crime correspondent. He has a background in criminology and is a licensed private investigator.

Central Narcotics Bureau

移民与关卡局 (ICA) 和中央肃毒局 (CNB) 表示，这一增长部分原因是内政团队各机构在 2025 年在检查站开展了 1417 次联合行动，比 2024 年的 1053 次增加了 34%。

照片：STEPHANIE YEOW

发布于2026年9月29日下午6:00

更新于2026年9月29日下午6:00

由于行动力度加大以及边境地区持续存在的毒品威胁，新加坡边境检查站的毒品逮捕人数在 2025 年上升了 50% 以上，共逮捕了 975 人。

ICA 和 CNB 联合开展了 1417 次行动，使用 X 光扫描仪和毒品探测器来识别高风险旅客和货物。

新的清关理念和综合目标中心改进了目标检查和官员培训，提高了在边境侦查毒品走私企图的效率。

新加坡——检查站的毒品逮捕人数激增，当局表示，毒贩一直在尝试新的方法来逃避侦查。

9月29日，移民与关卡局（ICA）和中央肃毒局（CNB）表示，2025年他们在关卡中逮捕了975名涉毒人员，比2024年的635人增加了约53%。

这些案件涉及毒品走私、持有和吸食，毒品通常是在个人物品或车辆隔间内发现的。

他们还补充说，这也是由于毒品威胁不断演变所致，贩毒分子不断调整手段，探索逃避侦查的新方法。

2025 年 7 月，在樟宜机场 4 号航站楼的转机区，警方在一群女性的行李中发现藏在毛绒玩具里的超过 25 公斤可卡因。

此次行动是中央肃毒局与香港警务处缉毒科交换情报的结果，最终逮捕了五名女性。

9月23日，移民与关卡局官员在大士关卡查获9公斤伪装成密封商业饼干包装的毒品。

警方在一辆马来西亚注册的摩托车的储物箱中发现了藏匿的毒品，导致马来西亚籍骑手被捕。

当天，一名新加坡男子因涉嫌走私未遂被捕，此前警方在淡滨尼的后续行动中查获了 1.5 公斤毒品。

根据《2025年世界毒品报告》，毒品滥用已达到历史最高水平。

但新加坡的整体情况依然稳定，2025 年将有 3,208 名吸毒者被捕，2024 年将有 3,175 名吸毒者被捕。

ICA 和 CNB 表示，他们将技术、情报和执法专业知识结合起来，以保障新加坡的边境安全。

9月29日，兀兰关卡检查站督察穆罕默德·萨尔明·穆罕默德·萨德利（Muhamed Salmin Mohamed Sadli）是移民与关卡局（ICA）兀兰指挥部搜查检查小组的组长，他在兀兰关卡进行联合行动后接受了媒体采访。

他表示，侦查工作包括一线警员的侧写和综合目标中心的强化目标定位。

该中心的设立是为了支持ICA于2024年实施的新清关概念，它一直利用信息和数据分析来识别高风险旅客、车辆和货物。

抵达的旅客和车辆将被送往进行更严格的检查，以便采取更有针对性的方法。

穆罕默德·萨尔明说：“我们还接受过培训，能够识别一些蛛丝马迹，例如旅客的肢体语言，以及车辆改装的迹象，并将它们筛选出来进行进一步检查。”

检查站使用的一些技术包括 X 射线扫描仪、爆炸物和毒品痕迹探测器、唾液测试盒和毒品鉴定盒，可在几分钟内显示测试结果。

此外，新的清关概念使得移民与关卡局官员能够从人工柜台工作重新部署到更高价值的职能，例如进行背景调查和有针对性的面谈和调查。

他们通过角色扮演、游戏化、模拟和小组讨论进行训练。

借助 3D 渲染等技术，可以更有效地了解不同车辆的隐蔽区域及其不同型号的明显特征。

中央肃毒局执法L组副指挥官郭敬文表示，除了检查站之外，后续行动也能打击更广泛的毒品走私活动。

他说：“当检查站发现疑似毒品案件时，中央肃毒局将评估并跟进相关线索。这可能会导致在内陆地区进行进一步调查、逮捕和缉毒。”

“我们提醒新加坡公民和永久居民，在海外服用管制药物仍然违反新加坡法律。”

大卫·孙是《海峡时报》的犯罪记者。他拥有犯罪学背景，并且是一名持证私人侦探。

中央缉毒局