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SINGAPORE: Twelve male foreign nationals were arrested for suspected drug-related offences in an overnight raid lasting more than four hours at a migrant worker dormitory in northern Singapore. Acting on information received, officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), together with other authorities, swept through the Woodlands compound from late Thursday (Nov 27) into the wee hours of Friday morning amid periods of heavy downpour.  The 11 Bangladeshis and one Myanmar national are between 23 and 40 years old. One of them, a 34-year-old Bangladeshi man, was arrested for suspected drug trafficking and drug consumption offences, the CNB said in a press release issued on Friday.  In a first, the media was allowed to accompany officers during a dormitory enforcement operation. Although led by CNB, the operation also involved the Singapore Police Force, Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Ministry of Manpower and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal activities, including drug offences and other crimes. Eight reporters followed scores of CNB officers - some in plain clothes, others in vests - as they searched rooms where migrant workers resided.  Past midnight, as heavy rain eased to a drizzle, the media were allowed into two rooms where suspects were arrested after the scenes were secured.       In the first room, located on the second floor of a block, five handcuffed men were being held on suspicion of drug-related offences. A few sat in a row on the floor with their belongings - mobile phones, wallets and identity cards - placed in sealed bags before them. The room contained six bunk beds arranged along three walls. The bunks, which appeared to hold clutter rather than mattresses, were separated by metal lockers draped with hangers and clothing, with luggage bags stacked on top.   With the media present, a few suspects were instructed to point out their lockers or beds, where gloved officers conducted thorough searches of their belongings. One officer sifted through piles of clothing and various paraphernalia stored on several levels of a locker, assisted by another officer who shone a light into the compartment. The suspect watched and responded to questions about the items and where he slept. Another officer then lowered a black suitcase from the top of the locker to the floor, where he and a colleague examined its compartments and patted down its lining. They did not appear to find anything of note. Officers also searched the clutter on the beds as suspects looked on. Some items were added to sealable bags, which were then labelled. Meanwhile, the room’s seven other occupants sat quietly in two rows near the door as they waited for the operation to conclude.   Within 10 minutes, the suspects were asked to stand and escorted out of the rooms. When the media entered the second room, which was on the ground floor of a separate block, one man was seated on the floor in the corner of the room surrounded by CNB officers. This room was of a similar configuration to the first, with clothing hung on all walls.  He answered the officers’ questions while the other residents sat in a loose scatter around the room, calmly watching the proceedings. The man was handcuffed shortly afterward. Officers were seen placing yellow- and red-coloured items suspected to have been used for drug consumption - including a glass bottle, a cut straw and a rubber tube with a mouthpiece - into sealable bags.   Similar to the first room, officers went through luggage containing clothes, shoes and smaller bags, while others examined the cash, bills and cards in the suspect’s wallet before placing them, along with his mobile phone, into a sealable bag. These items were then placed in a larger bag with the other exhibits. Once the officers were done searching the bags, they returned all the contents and set them aside. The entire drill took about 10 minutes, after which the suspect was helped to his feet and led out of the room.   The suspects were then taken to another area in the dormitory for processing before being transported away in vans. The media observed four suspects, each escorted by an officer, being handed into two separate vans that subsequently left the compound. Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the operation, Superintendent Xanthus Tong Hyeng Ji, Deputy Commanding Officer of CNB Enforcement J Division, said CNB remains committed to upholding drug laws and safeguarding the community, including migrant workers. "This operation is part of our law enforcement efforts against drug abuse and trafficking and other criminal and illicit activities. Such activities will not be tolerated and those involved will be dealt with accordingly," Mr Tong said.  "Drugs have no place in Singapore – be it in the community, workplace, or residential premises – our enforcement efforts are geared towards early detection and intervention. Early detection allows any risks – whether in the form of drug abuse or illicit activities – to be addressed quickly and prevent the spread, given the harmful and addictive nature of drugs." Investigations for all arrested suspects are ongoing, CNB said.  Separately, the HSA said it found three foreign nationals, aged 20 to 40, with 10 sachets of smokeless tobacco. They were issued fines on the spot, a spokesperson said.  She added that the possession, purchase and use of such tobacco products is prohibited in Singapore under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act. If convicted, a person can be fined up to S$2,000 (US$1,540). 

A couple from China, who approached strangers outside MRT stations in Singapore and scammed them of their money, have been given jail time. Claiming to be penniless and unable to withdraw cash from their ATM cards, Ma Yongwang, 31, and his wife, Liu Yaxue, 30, tricked unsuspecting strangers into buying them meals before swindling them of their money, according to Shin Min Daily News.   Travelled to Singapore specifically to commit fraud   The Chinese couple had allegedly travelled to Singapore with the specific aim of carrying out their fraudulent activities, even going to the extent of fabricating bank transfer records to deceive victims. Both Ma and Liu each pleaded guilty to one charge of committing fraud by false representations. The judge took four additional charges against Ma, and two additional charges against Liu, into consideration during sentencing.   Asked victim for a free meal before scamming him   The pair entered Singapore on Sep. 2, 2025, with a departure date scheduled for Sep. 5, 2025, and stayed at a hotel in Geylang during their time here. One victim was a Malaysian man, 23, who was working in Singapore. The couple approached the victim on Sep. 3 at around 5pm near Joo Koon MRT Station before striking up a conversation with him. Ma used a pseudonym, claiming that he and his wife were from Hong Kong. He told the victim that they had no cash and their ATM cards could not be used to withdraw cash, asking the victim if he could treat them to a meal. The victim agreed and took them to a food court. During the meal, Ma claimed that he urgently needed S$800 to pay for the hotel room, but his card would only be usable the following day. He asked if he could borrow the money, promising to transfer HK$5,500 (approximately S$917) as repayment. The victim agreed to help. Ma requested the victim's bank account details, then forged a transfer screenshot and showed it to the victim. Later, when the victim discovered that the funds had not been credited, Ma deflected the issue by claiming that there were processing delays.   Used fake gold ring as "collateral"   The couple also handed the victim a fake gold ring as "collateral", falsely claiming that it was their wedding ring. They said they would retrieve the ring after the transfer was completed. Ma also stated that the ring's value was approximately S$3,760. The victim, convinced of the arrangement, withdrew S$800 in cash from a nearby ATM and handed it to Ma. The victim later failed to receive the transfer and took the ring to a pawnshop for appraisal, only to discover it was counterfeit. Upon returning home and checking the bank statement, the victim found no record of the transfer and reported the matter to the police the following day. Police arrested both Ma and Liu on Sep. 5. Seven additional counterfeit gold rings from the couple's luggage were seized. The duo admitted to bringing the rings from China and intended to commit more fraud using the same method.   Submitted handwritten apology   The prosecution argued that Ma and Liu had treated Singapore like a "hunting ground" and their actions were premeditated and meticulous, and that the sentence should carry a strong deterrent effect to others with similar intentions. The couple pleaded for leniency, stating that they had deeply reflected on their actions and hoped for a lighter sentence. Liu submitted a handwritten apology, saying that it was her first overseas trip and expressed shame for her actions and wasting public resources. In her letter, she apologised to the victim, acknowledging that she had exploited his goodwill. The judge sentenced Ma to 11 months' jail, while Liu got nine months' imprisonment.

SINGAPORE: A new direct ferry link between Singapore and Indonesia’s Batam island began operations on Friday (Nov 28), the first new sea route between the two locations in several years. The service was launched in response to growing demand from both workers and tourists travelling between the two destinations. The route, operated by Sindo Ferry and Batamfast, brings passengers directly from Harbourfront to the Gold Coast International Ferry Terminal in Bengkong, located on the northern part of Batam. Each operator will run two round-trips daily. As many as 10,000 workers and tourists make the crossing between Singapore and Batam on ferries each day. The ride takes about an hour, making the Indonesian island a popular choice for a short getaway.     https://youtu.be/J6WhhUB4IJM SIXTH LINK TO BATAM The new route to Bengkong brings the total number of connections between the two islands to six. Most of the routes from Singapore are from Tanah Merah or Harbourfront, with those heading to Batam Centre the most popular. The other ferry terminals on Batam are: Sekupang on the northwestern coast Harbour Bay near the Nagoya district Nongsapura on the northeastern coast Waterfront (Teluk Senimba) on the western coast According to Sindo Ferry’s sales and marketing executive Christie Joy, high-speed vessels will be used on the new route. Each can carry between 200 and 300 passengers. It also means holiday trips from Singapore to Bengkong’s beach clubs and attractions will be quicker, without the usual 25-minute car ride from Batam Centre. “We've got hotels, cafes, water games, games for children, restaurants for people to enjoy and relax, it's quite complete,” said Mr Teo Abie, director of the Gold Coast terminal.   RISE IN BUSINESS TRAVELLERS Most ferry ticket sales come from tourists, but operators say traffic remains at only 70 to 80 per cent of pre-COVID levels. Visitors from China and India have not returned, partly due to changes in visa requirements – both nationalities now generally need a visa, typically via visa on arrival or an e-visa, to enter Indonesia. Mr Chua Choon Leng, general manager for ferry operations at Batamfast, said that business activity in Batam has been growing, noting that corporate travellers tend to be less sensitive to visa requirements. He added that the new Bengkong route is expected to serve both tourists and a rising number of commuters who travel frequently between the two locations. NEW PASIR GUDANG ROUTE? Beyond Batam, the operator is also eyeing a new link to Pasir Gudang in Johor, Malaysia. Johor already has two ferry routes with Singapore – connecting Tanah Merah with the Tanjung Pengelih and Desaru Coast terminals. There is currently no ferry link from Singapore to Pasir Gudang. “If you look at the connectivity between Singapore and Johor. In the west, we have Tuas. At the centre, we have the Causeway, whereas east of the Causeway, there's no connectivity,” Mr Chua noted. “But the whole area is so much bigger than the west. So we (want to) offer alternatives to commuters (and) residents by ferry.” If launched, the new route is expected to take about 45 minutes, compared with a two-hour drive across the Causeway during peak traffic. Mr Douglas Teh, managing director of the Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal, noted that the terminal is located 10 minutes from two international ports, Tanjung Langsat and Johor Port. “We are in a mature industrial area, (with) many multinationals … I think the location of Tanah Merah (ferry terminal) is very ideal. It’s about maybe 10-15 minutes to Changi Airport. So a lot of executives … may not want to brave the traffic going across the Causeway.” Before giving the go-ahead for new ferry routes, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore says it examines navigational safety and plans for handling emergencies or disruptions. Source: CNA/mp(dn)

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