Bangkok: Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat Lakboon, ONCB Secretary-General, alongside Mr. Prin Mekhanan, Director of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, ONCB, announced the arrest of Mr. Tan Leng Chong, a 50-year-old Singaporean suspect wanted for major drug trafficking activities. Mr. Chong, who allegedly sourced drugs from Thailand for distribution in Singapore, was apprehended at a resort in Bangkok along with two Indonesian associates found with various narcotics.
According to Thai News Agency, the Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore (CNB) collaborated with Thailand’s Narcotics Suppression Bureau to locate and apprehend Mr. Chong, who had been evading capture in Thailand. Singaporean authorities issued an arrest warrant in May 2025, charging him with drug distribution offenses, which could result in the death penalty under Singaporean law. His operations involved using Thailand as a base for trafficking drugs into Singapore.
Investigations revealed Mr. Chong’s movements in Pattaya, Chonburi Province. On July 5, 2025, he was tracked to Bangkok, where he met with an Indonesian individual, suspected to be part of his drug operations. Law enforcement, in cooperation with the Immigration Bureau, arrested Mr. Chong and searched the Indonesian’s residence, discovering two Indonesians in possession of drugs such as Ecstasy and Ketamine. They were taken to Chokchai Police Station for further legal proceedings. Subsequent searches at Mr. Chong’s residences in Pattaya yielded no additional illegal substances.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat emphasized the widespread nature of transnational drug crime networks, noting the persistent use of Thailand as a transit hub. The ONCB and Singapore’s CNB maintain ongoing collaboration to track and apprehend suspects with international arrest warrants. The Immigration Bureau is also considering visa cancellations for those involved in drug-related activities, given the security implications for Thailand.
The ONCB is actively coordinating with international bodies from countries including Vietnam, China, South Korea, Indonesia, and Malaysia to bolster investigative efforts against drug trafficking networks. This collaborative approach has yielded significant breakthroughs in tackling transnational crime.
On July 16, the ONCB plans to extradite Thai drug suspects Mr. Techin and Mr. Chamang from Myanmar, where they have been apprehended. Despite fleeing, they continued orchestrating drug deals via phone. The ONCB has enlisted Myanmar’s assistance to capture 39 suspects, with an additional 21 suspects pursued in Laos following information relayed to Lao authorities for their arrest.