A total of about 1.9kg of cannabis and 1.1kg of heroin were seized in the first major operation conducted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in 2018. The estimated worth of the sizeable amount of drugs seized in this operation is more than S$142,000.
In the early morning hours of 8 January 2018, CNB officers spotted a 34-year-old male Malaysian suspect at the vicinity of Evans Road. Shortly after, two suspected local drug traffickers – a 46-year-old male and a 30-year-old female – were spotted arriving at the location in a van. All of them were seen walking into a residential estate. Shortly after, the 34-year-old Malaysian left on his motorcycle.
CNB officers then moved in and arrested the 46-year-old male and 30–year-old female in the vicinity of Evans Road. From the locker of the 30-year-old female at her workplace at Evans Road, a total of about 1,933g of cannabis, 665g of heroin and 40g of ‘Ice’ were recovered. About 26g of cannabis were also recovered from within the van driven by the 46-year-old male. The 46-year-old man was suspected to have procured the drugs from a drug syndicate based in Malaysia.
CNB officers also arrested the 34-year-old Malaysian along Woodlands Avenue 3. Cash totaling S$4,500 was recovered from him.
Photo-1: Cannabis, heroin and cash recovered at Evans Road on 8 January 2018.
Swift follow-up investigations led to the arrest of two more suspects – a 56-year-old and a 62-year-old, both male Singaporeans – at a unit at Jalan Bahagia. A total of about 461g of heroin was recovered from within the unit. More than S$16,400 in cash was also recovered from the two men.
Photo-2: Heroin and cash recovered from a unit at Jalan Bahagia on 8 January 2018.
Investigations into the drug activities of all the suspects are ongoing. The Misuse of Drugs Act provides for the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking in more than 500g of cannabis. 1,000g of cannabis is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 143 drug abusers for a week. The Misuse of Drugs Act also provides for the death penalty if the amount of diamorphine (or pure heroin) trafficked exceeds 15g. 15g of diamorphine is equivalent to 1,250 straws[*], which is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 180 abusers for a week.
"Singapore has strict laws for drug trafficking and CNB conducts rigorous enforcement to deter and interdict the flow of drugs into Singapore. Drug syndicates – both local and overseas – continue to take their chances to smuggle and distribute drugs to the local market, and reap profits out of the misery of people trapped in the vicious cycle of drug abuse. That is why we must continue to uphold our tough laws and persevere with our vigorous enforcement efforts to ensure that illicit drugs do not flood our market and that our drug situation remain under control.” – Mr Sng Chern Hong, Director Communications, CNB.
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
9 JANUARY 2018
[*] This is estimated using a typical purity level of 4%, based on drug seizures in recent years. The number of straws that are actually made may vary according to the purity level of the heroin used in the straws.
