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SINGAPORE - The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has a secret weapon - a special task force put together since 1997 to secretly infiltrate drug syndicates and bust them in their lairs.
The existence of the unit has been kept under wraps for 15 years due to the covert and high-risk nature of the job, reported The Straits Times (ST).
Agents play varied roles ranging from students, club goers and even cleaners - all in the name of going undercover to blend into places known as 'hot zones', where drug syndicates predominantly operate.
Agents often spend weeks tailing and watching suspects until the time is right to draw in the net.
The unit, under CNB, is kept so well hidden that information on the task force, such as the identities and number of officers in the unit, and even its location is highly classified.
Family members of members are also kept in the dark.
The task force, made up of highly trained individuals, only recruits the best of the best.
Members are picked from the bureau's fittest officers and sharpest shooters. They also must have at least two year' experience in the bureau.
After being selected, they are required to pass a series of physical, shooting and psychometric tests. A final interview determines whether an officer gets the position.
There are certain important attributes that recruiters look out for when selecting candidates.
One is having a keen eye for details, as they are often deployed very near the trafficker and require excellent observational skills. In addition, as the syndicates also have counter-surveillance, the officers also have to be very careful about being followed.
Other attributes include working well with team mates and being quick on their feet.
The guerrilla tactics nature of the unit is necessary, said a CNB spokesperson.
This is as while drug syndicates in Singapore are relatively less sophisticated compared to those of other countries, their operations have become increasingly complex and layered, the spokesperson told ST.
An average of 25 drug syndicates have been put out of business here every year for the past five years.
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The existence of the unit has been kept under wraps for 15 years due to the covert and high-risk nature of the job, reported The Straits Times (ST).
Agents play varied roles ranging from students, club goers and even cleaners - all in the name of going undercover to blend into places known as 'hot zones', where drug syndicates predominantly operate.
Agents often spend weeks tailing and watching suspects until the time is right to draw in the net.
The unit, under CNB, is kept so well hidden that information on the task force, such as the identities and number of officers in the unit, and even its location is highly classified.
Family members of members are also kept in the dark.
The task force, made up of highly trained individuals, only recruits the best of the best.
Members are picked from the bureau's fittest officers and sharpest shooters. They also must have at least two year' experience in the bureau.
After being selected, they are required to pass a series of physical, shooting and psychometric tests. A final interview determines whether an officer gets the position.
There are certain important attributes that recruiters look out for when selecting candidates.
One is having a keen eye for details, as they are often deployed very near the trafficker and require excellent observational skills. In addition, as the syndicates also have counter-surveillance, the officers also have to be very careful about being followed.
Other attributes include working well with team mates and being quick on their feet.
The guerrilla tactics nature of the unit is necessary, said a CNB spokesperson.
This is as while drug syndicates in Singapore are relatively less sophisticated compared to those of other countries, their operations have become increasingly complex and layered, the spokesperson told ST.
An average of 25 drug syndicates have been put out of business here every year for the past five years.
[email protected]
