Man arrested in Woodlands over possession of weapons, vapes and illegal cigarettes, drug offences
E-vaporisers and duty-unpaid cigarettes were allegedly found in a 27-year-old man's vehicle.
SINGAPORE – A 27-year-old ma n allegedly in possession of weapons , e-vaporisers and duty-unpaid cigarettes was arrested in Woodlands on Aug 6.
The police said they received a call for assistance at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 2 and Woodlands Avenue 5 at 5.45am.
The Straits Times understands that the man is suspected of being in possession of knife-related weapons .
E-vaporisers and duty-unpaid cigarettes were also allegedly found in his vehicle, and will be referred to the Health Sciences Authority and Singapore Customs, respectively.
The man was also arrested for suspected drug-related offences, which have been referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau.
Investigations are ongoing.
In a video recording of the incident uploaded to social media, at least seven police vehicles are seen parked along the roadside. Officers are seen surrounding a man who is seated on the pedestrian walkway near the grass verge, his hands behind his back.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore MRT track issue causes 5-hour delay; Jeffrey Siow says 'we can and will do better'
Singapore ST Explains: What is a track point fault and why does it cause lengthy train disruptions?
Singapore Three people taken to hospital after fire in Punggol executive condominium
Singapore Elderly man found dead in SingPost Centre stairwell could have been in confused state: Coroner
Singapore 81 primary schools to hold ballot for Phase 2C of Primary 1 registration
Singapore S'pore and Indonesia have discussed jointly developing military training facilities: Chan Chun Sing
Singapore Two workers died after being hit by flying gas cylinders in separate incidents in 2025
Sport Young Lions and distance runner Soh Rui Yong out of SEA Games contingent
The surrounding areas are seen cordoned off with tape.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Eyal Zamir, the Israeli general at odds with Netanyahu
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The new Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visits the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem's Old City, March 5, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo JERUSALEM - Eyal Zamir, the Israeli armed forces chief of staff arguing against a full takeover of Gaza, is the latest in a long line of generals to tussle with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Zamir fears endangering the lives of remaining hostages and miring an exhausted military in Gaza, he told Netanyahu during a stormy meeting on Tuesday, though he is expected to seize the last areas of the besieged territory if ordered to do so. Speaking on Thursday as Netanyahu's war cabinet prepared to meet, Zamir defended his right to speak out on the military's behalf, calling the culture of debate "an inseparable part of the history of the Jewish people". But he also said the military now had the ability to establish a new security reality along the border. "Our intention is to defeat Hamas and continue to operate with our hostages at the forefront of our minds," he said. His hard image looks very different to Palestinians. They already knew Zamir for suppressing Gaza unrest in 2018 when more than 150 people were killed. Now they see him as the architect of utter devastation in the territory. TIGHTROPE ACT He has a difficult line to walk. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security Singapore Jail for driver who drove over leg of special needs woman in accident on church driveway Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds "The challenge that stands in front of him right now, promoting a doctrine or policy that he really doesn't support, will be very complicated," said Michael Milshtein of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University. Still, as a former military secretary to Netanyahu, promoted by the prime minister to deputy head of the general staff in 2018 and to the top job early this year, Zamir should be well placed to argue his point, Milshtein said. Unlike some of the other army top brass, Zamir was not tainted with the catastrophic security mistakes of Hamas' October 7, 2023, cross-border assault on Israeli communities, he said, an attack seen as Israel's worst military failure. He is also the commander in chief of a military now riding high in the national mood after shattering Lebanon's Hezbollah last year and taking out much of Iran's nuclear programme and Revolutionary Guards leadership in June. The scale of Israel's successes in both conflicts re-established its reputation as the Middle East's military hegemon, inspiring a wave of national pride over the pummelling of Iranian-backed Hezbollah and the weakening of Iran. While internal political divisions meant trust in Netanyahu was only 40% in an Israeli poll last month, more than 68% of respondents trusted Zamir. But at the same time, the Israeli military has come under ever greater criticism from abroad, including from major Western allies, over its conduct of the war in Gaza - with massive destruction, looming famine and a high civilian casualty toll. Zamir has already expanded the Gaza war since replacing Herzi Halevi, who resigned as chief of staff in January over the October 7 Hamas attack. After Israel broke a ceasefire with Hamas in March, it escalated major ground operations across Gaza. Zamir told troops in a speech that "we will continue until we break the enemy's fighting capability — until we defeat it wherever we operate". TANK SOLDIER Zamir began his long military career in the armoured corps after joining up in 1984, commanding tanks at a time when Israeli forces were deeply involved in their occupation of southern Lebanon. He later ran a military doctrine and training unit, helping formulate Israeli strategic thinking, before heading the army's 7th Brigade and then its 36th Division. As head of Southern Command from 2015-18 he was responsible for how the military handled months of weekly protests by thousands of Gazans approaching the security fence with Israel after a partial blockade of goods and people in place since 2005, when Israel pulled its military and settlers out of the coastal enclave. More than 150 protesters were killed in the demonstrations, with Palestinians saying the victims were unarmed and Israel calling them rioters. One Gazan injured in the 2018 protests at the age of 16, who only gave his name as Basel, said by phone: "We don't differentiate between the Israeli leaders. Zamir is like all the others. A war criminal." Zamir's long record was roundly praised by Netanyahu and his ministers when he was appointed, but the difficulty of balancing the demands of the political leadership with the needs of a stretched army soon kicked in. By April, Israeli media outlets were reporting clashes between the chief of staff and government ministers, particularly those from the far right in Netanyahu's coalition, who wanted a tougher approach in Gaza. Israeli generals have throughout the war voiced concerns about an open-ended conflict with reserve troops repeatedly called up and the military taking over governance of an enclave reduced to rubble with an embittered population. "From the military point of view, it's not a very complicated mission to occupy all Gaza. But it's quite clear that the minute this occupation is accomplished, it means the IDF is responsible for 2 million Palestinians," said Milshtein. REUTERS

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump directs Commerce Department to create new US Census
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Trump said the population count should be 'based on modern day facts and figures' and results of the 2024 presidential election. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Aug 7 said he has told the Commerce Department to create a new Census that excludes undocumented migrants, revisiting a push from his first term that was later rejected by the courts and reversed by his successor. Mr Trump announced his fresh attack on the Census in an early-morning post on Truth Social, saying the population count should be 'based on modern day facts and figures' and results of the 2024 presidential election. 'People who are in our Country illegally will not be counted in the census,' he said. Mr Trump has long railed against the inclusion of undocumented migrants in the Census, which is used to determine congressional apportionment, and signed a similar memorandum in the final year of his first term in office. That measure was later challenged legally, with courts ruling that only Congress holds authority to define who is counted. Former President Joe Biden reversed Mr Trump's exclusion policy with an executive order upon taking office in 2021. The latest push comes amid a nationwide campaign by the Trump administration to arrest migrants who are in the country illegally and to deport millions of people , actions that have prompted dozens of lawsuits. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Singapore Vape bins placed in Singapore's six autonomous universities to encourage voluntary disposal Singapore CDC, SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDC Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore Jail for driver who drove over leg of special needs woman in accident on church driveway Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security The initiative is hurting Mr Trump's approval rating, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (centre), Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha (fifth from left), Thai acting defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit (fifth from right) and delegates in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 7. – Cambodia and Thailand agreed on a set of measures on Aug 7 aimed at bolstering a critical ceasefire between the two neighbouring countries, including allowing an interim team of Asean observers to monitor disputed border areas. But fundamental differences at the heart of the border conflict remain unresolved, analysts say. Top defence officials from both countries met in Kuala Lumpur and jointly signed a 13-point document outlining commitments not to move or reinforce troops and weapons along the disputed border, not to undertake any provocative actions that may escalate tensions, and to refrain from disseminating disinformation, among other measures. Under the agreement, defence attaches from Asean member nations, led by Malaysia, will 'observe, on each side, the implementations of the ceasefire on a regular basis'. 'We are here for a detailed ceasefire arrangement to stop bloodshed and the suffering by soldiers and civilians of both sides,' Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. 'The steps are life-saving measures and lay groundwork for restoring confidence, trust and normalcy between our two countries.' The so-called General Border Committee meeting on Aug 7 was preceded by three days of preliminary talks, and was also attended on the fourth and final day by China and the United States as observers. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Singapore Vape bins placed in Singapore's six autonomous universities to encourage voluntary disposal Singapore CDC, SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDC Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore Jail for driver who drove over leg of special needs woman in accident on church driveway Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security It follows an unconditional ceasefire agreed on July 28 between Cambodia and Thailand – also brokered in Malaysia – after a five-day conflict, the worst flare-up in the region in over a decade, which claimed at least 43 lives and displaced more than 300,000 people from both sides of the border. 'The monitors are essential,' said Dr Thitinan Pongsudhirak, professor of international relations at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. 'If there are no outside monitors physically on the ground, the probability, the risk of return to violence, to military confrontation, will still be high, it's still very tense now.' Analysts said the outcome of the meeting was a step in the right direction in terms of boosting confidence in what is still widely regarded as a fragile truce, with tensions still strained among the massed troops at the border still harbouring a deep distrust of the opposing camp. But fundamental disagreements at the heart of the border conflict remain unresolved, they added. 'This is another step to make sure that the ceasefire that you agreed in the first place is really effective, that both sides be committed and to make sure it's not a fragile agreement,' said Mr Chhay Lim, deputy director at the Centre for South-east Asian Studies at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. 'But the ceasefire is just an immediate solution to the fighting... the next step that is the long-term solution – you still need to resolve the root cause of the problem,' he added. The longstanding border dispute between the two South-east Asian countries stems from historical disagreement over the interpretation of colonial-era maps, which previously erupted in 2011 before the most recent round of tensions was sparked by a brief skirmish that resulted in a Cambodian soldier being shot dead on May 28. Thailand has long favoured direct bilateral negotiations with Cambodia, while Cambodia has opted to pursue international arbitration via the International Court of Justice in The Hague. 'After they (these two countries) fully implement the ceasefire and agree to withdraw the troops from the disputed area, then the next step should be, what should we do with our unfinished border demarcation... and it's another difficult job to talk about after that,' Mr Lim said. Thailand's co-chairman of the border committee, Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Nakphanit, told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that Cambodia had continued to contribute to tensions on the ground by deploying additional troops and operating unmanned aerial vehicles at the border, as well as spreading disinformation. 'These are provocative actions that could lead to misunderstandings,' General Nattaphon said. 'However, from the meeting, the Cambodian side at policy level has shown their sincerity to the ceasefire agreement. The violations of the ceasefire, as mentioned prior, may be arbitrary acts by the military units in the area.' The truce has been heralded as a win for Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his capacity as Asean chair, and for the regional grouping, though US President Donald Trump has also been quick to claim credit for intervening by using trade tariffs as leverage. Datuk Seri Anwar said the latest meeting was 'meaningful' and resulted in a key consensus to sustain dialogue and uphold the ceasefire along the Thai-Cambodian border. 'Both sides also reached several important agreements including full adherence to the ceasefire without any form of aggression, no increase or repositioning of troops, avoidance of provocative actions, and a firm commitment to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.' Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun said it was incumbent on Malaysia as Asean chairman to exercise some degree of leadership in moderating the differences between member states. 'For Asean, it needs to buttress its credibility in security matters, not the least being able to ensure its internal peace in order to maintain the notion of Asean centrality,' he added. Independent geopolitical analyst and managing director of Viewfinder Global Affairs, Adib Zalkapli, said Malaysia would continue to play a key role as mediator as long as both countries recognised it as such. 'Malaysia is a credible and ideal third party in this case, it's the Asean chair (for 2025) and most importantly it is accepted by both Cambodia and Thailand as an honest broker,' Mr Adib said. 'In the long term, the resolution of the issue depends a lot on the domestic politics of both Cambodia and Thailand,' he added. Thailand and Cambodia said in a joint statement on Aug 7 that they would hold more talks in two weeks and then again in a month.