DRUG ADDICTS WHO FELL TO THEIR DEATHS

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Home Affairs how many suspected drug addicts fell to their deaths between January 1994 and June 1995 when drug enforcement officers raided their homes.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: During the period from January 1994 to June 1995, Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) conducted 2333 checks on homes to arrest drug offenders. In 8 of the cases, the persons sought by CNB attempted to escape by scaling down from their flats' rear windows and they fell to their deaths. Seven of them were absconders from CNB's supervision and one was a drug pusher.

No CNB officer wants any drug suspect to fall to death. They take all precautions to minimise such incidents. CNB officers are trained to exercise discretion during such house checks and would try to persuade the offenders to open their house doors. An officer would also be deployed to cover rear windows to look out for any escape attempt and to detect drugs being thrown out.