SINGAPORE — After a dramatic seven-year escape, Alvin Ching Kah Meng, a 37-year-old Singaporean, was arrested in Malaysia on 1 October 2024 and sent back to Singapore on 20 October. He faces serious drug trafficking charges that date back to 2014.
Ching was first caught in the drug web when he was arrested on 3 April 2014 for three counts of drug trafficking and one count of drug consumption. However, he jumped bail and went missing after failing to appear in court on 12 June 2017. An arrest warrant was swiftly issued against him.
Long Chase and Arrest
According to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Ching wasn’t just hiding from drug charges; he was also wanted for two other serious cases, including voluntarily causing grievous hurt and cheating by impersonation. Malaysian authorities nabbed him on various criminal and immigration offences, ultimately leading to his deportation back to Singapore.
The Drug Charges
Upon his return, Ching was charged with trafficking two packets of a crystalline substance, discovered to weigh at least 165.7g of methamphetamine—or Ice, as it is known on the streets. The CNB has laid it out plainly: if convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison and possibly 15 strokes of the cane. Moreover, a harsher penalty looms for trafficking larger amounts.
SAC Leon Chan, the acting director of CNB, took a moment to thank the Malaysian authorities for their cooperation. His message to potential traffickers? “There is no safe haven for drug traffickers thinking they can evade our law by hiding overseas.”
The Ongoing Investigation
The saga continues, as CNB is pursuing investigations into Ching’s other alleged offences. His next appearance in court is set for 28 October, and the eyes of the law will be on him as this story unfolds.