Grown men cry when they see her — a day in the life of a CNB officer

SINGAPORE — Men abusing drugs crying when they realise they are caught; some turning aggressive. Family members distraught when they watch the arrest taking place right before their eyes. 

Over the past six years, Natalie (not her real name) has been at the frontline taking in the full brunt of human emotions while carrying out her work as a Central Narcotics Bureau officer. She cannot be identified because it could compromise operations. 

"It is heartbreaking, but at the end of the day, we need to take the situation as it is and be as fair as possible,” the 32-year-old said. 

She was speaking to TODAY after her team won an award for operational excellence on Monday (Sept 30) at a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The specific details of the anti-narcotics operation for which her team won the award cannot be disclosed either because the case is before the courts. 

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Talking about some of the people she has caught, the officer said that part of her job is also to calm the abusers’ family members and explain to them the reasons for the arrest. 

“They can be aggressive sometimes. But of course, at the end of the day, you need to understand that they are like that because their loved ones are being arrested.” 

In a recent operation, the wife and child of a drug abuser was present when the arrest took place and Natalie remembered having to calm the woman.

“She seemed very dependent on the husband, so I think she was shocked.”

Typically, the spouses know that their partners are abusing drugs but they are caught unawares when officers spring up on them in plain clothes.

The offenders themselves are usually taken aback as well during such surprise arrests.

“There are males who also cry when they get arrested. When they face the reality, they do cry,” she added.

"There is no typical arrest scene. Some may just stay in shock. Some may start to mutter to themselves unintelligibly. Some may start to get jittery. Some may react aggressively, raising their voices, asking why are they under arrest."

While most offenders are ready to “face the music” and are cooperative when caught, a small number would try to fight the arrest, Natalie said. By her estimate, this is about one or two out of 10 cases.

In those situations, the CNB officers work as a team to pin them down. 

Due to the countless operations and numerous arrests they have made, Natalie said that she is unable to recall any particular one that made an impact on her.

As a whole, CNB arrested 3,438 drug abusers last year, an 11 per cent increase from 3,091 in 2017, based on the agency’s annual report.

Work is certainly physically demanding, but Natalie is not easily daunted.

“I’m in the job because I’m strong enough — physically and mentally,” she said, adding that she learns from her seniors and watches how they do their work.

"I psyche myself to expect the unexpected, that things may not always go about the same way. Then I'm prepared to expect anything that may develop and I will not be caught surprised."

While she has to be firm and tough, her heart is not hardened towards the offenders, believing that every one of them has another shot at being clean and free from addiction. 

“Everyone needs the chance to change. I don't take it that drugs abusers will always be drug abusers.

“Even if you're a first-time abuser or second-time abuser or third-time abuser, you deserve a chance,” she said. 

There are times when the offenders become defeatist after getting arrested and while she is taking their statements. “They say, ‘This is what's going to happen. I’m already old.’

“I always encourage them to give themselves a chance… giving them hope is what we can do.”