Public warning issued after deadly drug cocktail linked to Songkran deaths

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Described: 20 Apr 2025 at 14:48

A new generation of ecstasy pills embossed with the Labubu cartoon, seized in July last year. (Photo supplied)
A new era of ecstasy pills embossed with the Labubu film, seized in July next year. ( Photo supplied )

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board ( ONCB) has issued a nationwide warning following the deaths of two individuals and the hospitalisation of another due to a suspected drug cocktail known on the streets as “Kanom” or “Labubu, ” which circulated during the recent Songkran festival.

Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, ONCB Secretary-General, said the firm received information from Ramathibodi Poison Center about three persons who collapsed after participating in water holidays in Bangkok. The victims apparently suffered convulsions, stopped breathing, and went into cardiac arrest. Two after died, while the second remains in intensive care. All the people were linked to the use of the new medication concoction.

The centre’s preliminary findings suggest the medication may be a dangerous combination of stimulants and depressants, similar to the fatal “k-powdered milk” drug cocktail ( a combination of morphine and diazepam–an anti-anxiety treatment ) that made headlines in 2022. The pharmaceutical, sold in capsule form resembling the common rabbit-like comic character ‘ Labubu’, is classified as a type of bliss containing a high concentration of MDMA— well above the usual 40–50 % found in conventional joy supplements.

The mind-altering MDMA medication is used to make joy. The Labubu tablets are also mixed with different active substances, including morphine and tea, which enhance the drug’s effects and make it considerably more risky.

Pol Lt Gen Panurat said that the actual content of the pills involved in the new cases is still under lab evaluation. He urged the government to be diligent, avoid unknown elements, and report any drug-related engagement to ONCB’s 24-hour helpline at 1386.

The Ramathibodi Poison Center also emphasised the urgent need to warn friends and family members who may be at risk of using the Labubu ecstasy tablets— especially if leftover substances from the festival remain in circulation — as further use could be fatal.

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Tests continue on steel samples from collapsed Bangkok tower site

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Discussed: 20 Apr 2025 at 14:28

Excavators continuously operate to remove the rubble of the collapsed State Audit Office building in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, on Saturday. (Photo: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration)
Excavators continuously work to reduce the wreckage of the fell State Audit Office creating in Chatuchak area, Bangkok, on Saturday. ( Photo: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration )

The Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand did on Monday check the normal of more material samples just collected from the crashed State Audit Office creating, according to the Industry Ministry.

Pongpol Yodmuangcharoen, spokeswoman for the Industry Ministry, said on Sunday that the tests may be conducted on an extra 40 shafts of eight types of material that authorities collected from the collapse on April 11.

“The focus is public health. If companies did wrong, they must be punished, lose their licences and have their businesses closed, ” he said.

Previous tests on April 3 found three kinds of material at the State Audit Office page were substandard, he said.

Monday’s testing will occur on the same day that Xin Ke Yuan Co plans to keep a media conference on the standard of its material items. The press event will take place at Rama Gardens Hotel in Bangkok at 2pm on Monday.

On Sunday the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand urged the government to issue explanations on the style requirements for the fresh State Audit Office building, the engineers and architects accountable for the high-rise job and the standard of its design.

The 30-storey structure collapsed on March 28 when a 7. 7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar.

On Saturday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reported there were 103 victims of the collapse. Of them, nine were injured, 47 were killed and 47 were missing.

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Fitness deck, 24-hour lounge: Revamped Marine Parade Community Building to open first quarter of 2026 ​​​​​

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Greater Convenience

When the neighborhood tower is available, there will be a “continuous network ” – with air-conditioning – between its floor and Marine Parade MRT place on the Thomson-East Coast Line, said Dr Tan.

An impending pull at the motorist costs bridge linking Tao Nan School and Block 67 Marine Drive will also be located ways away from the community tower.

“This switch will boost safety and convenience, benefiting students, seniors and people with mobility requirements, ” said the constituency office.

Complementing this is a collection of approaching and just completed covered linkways across Marine Crescent, Marine Terrace, Joo Chiat Road and East Coast Road that may connect homes to essential services, it added.

This is further supported by Marine Terrace MRT train and the  Sea Parade cluster shuttle bus services, which links people to Marine Parade Central and other important areas like schools, polyclinics and meal centres.

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GE2025: PSP founder Tan Cheng Bock on what could be his last election, to play mentor role if elected

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45 Times ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE 

Dr Tan was first elected into parliament under the People’s Action Party ( PAP ) banner in 1980 for what was then Ayer Rajah Single Member Constituency ( SMC). He served at the district for 26 years before stepping down in 2006.  

He finally ran for the 2011 Political Election, but just lost to former Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan.

He declared his intention to run for the presidency again in 2016, but the eligibility criteria for the election was revised that year to ensure it was a “reserved election ” for a Malay candidate, preventing him from contesting.  

He launched PSP in 2019 and competed under the group for West Coast GRC in the 2020 General Election but lost. It was the closest competition of that vote, with the PSP gaining 48. 32 per cent of the voting.  

Looking up at his time in politics, Dr Tan told CNA that it has been a rewarding one.  

“It was a rewarding journey for me, rewarding in the sense that at every general election, you learn new things, you learn new ways of managing things, meeting people, new people … it ’s a very enriching experience, ” he said.  

He added that he has never regretted any decisions he made regarding PSP, but said that “a lot more can be done ” with how the group is managed.  

“I’m getting people who join us from different walks of life, different ideas, different ways of doing things, so as a leader, I got to understand … it ’s a lot of management, ” he said.  

He added that he is also looking at registration, not only starting from Mr Leong and Ms Poa, but from others who are with the group but have not yet put their names out in people.  

“They are staying at the back, learning, and I told them, at the end of the day, when you come into the social area, the judgment aspect is very strong, ” he said.  

“You must become thoroughly convinced that you’re coming around to provide, not to gain titles or honors here and there. ” 

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GE2025: Singapore Democratic Alliance to confirm decision on Punggol GRC a day before Nomination Day

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Mr Lim was accompanied by around 10 different party members and participants, including SDA secretary-general Abu Mohamed and at least one new mouth ,  businessman Muhammad Faizal Mohmad.

Asked about people who contested in past elections but have not been manifest at latest events- such as Mr Kelvin Ong- Mr Lim said they were still with the group and that” when the occasion comes… we did arrive up”.

Pulau Ubin, an island in north Singapore, used to be piece of East Coast GRC but has been redrawn into Pasir Ris-Changi GRC for the upcoming elections.

SDA has said it does rely on this previously formed district, which absorbed regions from the now-defunct Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC- which the opposition group had contested repeatedly since 2006.

The rest of the towns in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC are part of a fresh four-member Punggol GRC, which has also subsumed Punggol West SMC.

At the last poll in 2020, the solitary seat was won by PAP’s Sun Xueling against WP’s Tan Chen Chen.  

The WP has no confirmed if it will challenge in Punggol, though its members- including fresh face Sufyan Mikhail Putra Mohd Kamil- have been seen walking the floor that.

Mr Lim was asked if SDA may prevent a three-cornered struggle in Punggol.  

” We rarely go into other people’s area… and we are not the one that activates,” said Mr Lim.

” We have been quite consistently- after every vote- been current in that district Pasir Ris-Punggol, and now it’s Pasir Ris-Changi. “

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Thai PM Paetongtarn to visit Cambodia

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Described: 20 Apr 2025 at 13 :47

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, before she was prime minister, meets Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet during a visit to Cambodia on March 14, 2024. (Photo: Pheu Thai Party)
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, before she was perfect chancellor, meets Thai Prime Minister Hun Manet during a visit to Cambodia on March 14, 2024. ( Photo: Pheu Thai Party )

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will give an official attend to Cambodia on Wednesday and Thursday.

Government official Jirayu Huangsub said on Sunday that the prime minister did give her first official visit to Cambodia on April 23 and 24 following an offer from her Vietnamese equivalent Hun Manet.

During the visit, both prime ministers had rule over a meeting to start a brand to mark the 75th anniversary of Thai-Cambodian diplomatic ties. They will also see the filing of bilateral treaties between the two countries, Mr Jirayu said.

On the same situation, Prime Minister Paetongtarn may also join past Thai prime minister Hun Sen, the spokeswoman said.

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South Korea, US, to hold trade talks this week, Seoul says

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SEOUL: South Korea and the United States will hold trade consultations this week in Washington at the suggestion of the US, Seoul’s trade ministry said on Sunday ( Apr 20 ). Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun may meet with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury SecretaryContinue Reading

GE2025: No ‘gaps or drops’ in Marine Parade due to Tan Chuan-Jin’s resignation, says Tan See Leng

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SINGAPORE: It is a “pity ” that Mr Tan Chuan-Jin could not complete his term as Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng on Sunday ( Apr 20 ), but there have not been “any gaps or any drops ” in the work the ex-Speaker of Parliament did.

He was answering several questions from the media about the former MP’s resignation in 2023 during the People’s Action Party ( PAP ) candidate introduction for the Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.  

Dr Tan, the leader of the team contesting the hospital, said:” For the cracks, or the perceived cracks that you think that probably could have been left because of ex-speaker Tan Chuan-Jin’s withdrawal, during the time when he was in Parliament, and for the several years before that, he has built a very strong line of grass initiatives for residents.  

“It’s a sympathy, very sad that he left, don’t complete the name. But I don’t think that any of the activities as a result of his withdrawal has been in any manner compromised. ” 

” The individuals, the community leaders, the grassroots aid volunteers within Kembangan-Chai Chee– these are really our overlooked soldiers, ” said Dr Tan.

” Many a time you see the Member of Parliament, the mentor, the political politicians in front, but a lot of the job at the back – they are done by our overlooked champions,” said Dr Tan.  

Mr Tan had stepped down in July 2023 after an adulterous affair with the original Tampines GRC MP Cheng Li Hui.

The district has been touted as a key battle ahead of the May 3 elections, with the PAP group edging out the Workers ’ Party with 57. 74 per cent of the ballot at the last General Election in 2020, lower than the 64. 07 per share it garnered in 2015.

Responding to another issue about the impact on voters ’ views of Mr Tan’s withdrawal, Dr Tan said in Mandarin: “As persons, who among us has no faults?

Noting that it was Easter Sunday, Dr Tan added: “The most important issue, I hope our people give us an opportunity and powerful mission, and we will continue to improve and provide citizens. ”

“We can’t change the past, but we can definitely from immediately, work hard in fulfilling a better future, ” he added.

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GE2025: NSP to bow out from SMCs in Sembawang and Tampines, but will contest both GRCs

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SINGAPORE: The National Solidarity Party ( NSP) will bow out from Sembawang West and Tampines-Changi Changkat SMCs and only contest Sembawang and Tampines GRCs, party chief Spencer Ng announced on Sunday ( Apr 20 ).  

Speaking to reporters outside Kampung Admiralty, the group ’s secretary-general confirmed that the NSP will also not subject groups in Jalan Besar and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRCs for the future General Election.

“This is not an easy choice but a necessary one. We do this not because we are weak, but because we are powerful enough to place country before home, unity before personality and development before place, ” he added.  

“This selection is not about giving up. It’s about showing up separately. ”

NSP has “consistently demonstrated what it means to move the talk”, and has been clear about where it will challenge, said its key, adding that it has respected the “gentlemen’s rules of engagement ” in every vote it has participated in under existing party leadership.  

“Even when not every opposition party has chosen to do the same, we have stayed true to our rules, ” said Mr Ng.  

With its recent strategy, NSP will need to discipline 10 candidates.  

Mr Ng recently said that the group has about 30 people who are interested in standing for vote, but that the party was just “very certain ” of the divisions in Sembawang and Tampines.

The NSP team is expected to face a three-corner fight with the incumbent People’s Action Party ( PAP ) and the Singapore Democratic Party ( SDP ) in Sembawang GRC.

SDP has announced its possible candidates for the five-member hospital. Party main Chee Quickly Juan intends to battle the new one seat in Sembawang West.  

NSP had recently questioned SDP’s purpose to challenge Sembawang GRC. On Apr 12, Red Dot United pulled out of casual opposition alliance The Coalition, citing worries about NSP’s determination to face off with SDP in the three-cornered battle.  

In response to a query about why NSP does not give way to SDP in Sembawang GRC, Mr Ng said his group has now “invested a lot of time, effort and resources” in the area, and has a long-term perspective for the district.

Mr Ng confirmed that he will head the NSP staff in the hospital, and recently introduced floating manager and private-hire drivers Raiyian Chia as a fresh face who will be part of the slate.

The PAP has not revealed its full 2025 slate for the constituency.    

Over in Tampines GRC, a multi-cornered fight is also shaping up. The Workers ‘ Party has introduced Mr Jimmy Tan as a potential candidate for its slate there. The People’s Power Party had also earlier indicated their interest in contesting the five-member constituency.

NSP’s president Reno Fong and vice-president Mohd Ridzwan Mohammad will contest Tampines GRC, joined by three new faces, the former had said in March. Both were part of NSP’s slate for the same constituency in 2020.

When asked about the party ’s preparations for three-corner fights, Mr Ng said: “Let us not be disillusioned that the PAP can be easily dislodged. ”

During its walkabout at Kampung Admiralty, NSP interacted with members of the public and gave out durians.  

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who led PAP’s 2020 team for the constituency, was at an event nearby and stopped to shake hands with and speak to Mr Ng.

NEW FACES

On Sunday, Mr Ng also introduced financial consultant Zee Phay and Republic Polytechnic lecturer Verina Ong as two new faces who will be potential candidates at the upcoming election.  

The party will reveal its full slate of candidates for Sembawang and Tampines GRCs on Nomination Day, said its secretary-general.  

NSP will also announce its full manifesto in one to two days, with the slogan “Your Future, Our Priority, A Bright Future For Singapore”, Mr Ng added.  

The manifesto will feature policy proposals on housing, support for young parents and Singapore’s declining fertility rate.  

ZEE PHAY, 32

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