2 drug syndicates dismantled, over 7.5kg of heroin seized

CNB carried out two separate operations over the last week, dismantling two drug syndicates and seizing over 7.5kg of heroin. The drugs were estimated to be worth more than S$525,000.

Seizure of over 2.5kg of heroin on 27 July

On 27 July at around 11.40am, CNB officers were deployed to conduct observation on a suspected drug trafficker, a 50-year-old Singaporean male. He met a suspected drug client, a 60-year-old Singaporean male, in the vicinity of Tampines Street 21, before they parted ways.

Officers arrested the 60-year-old in the vicinity of 258 Tampines, recovering about 1.4kg of heroin from him. Officers also raided the 60-year-old’s unit, arresting a 48-year-old suspected drug abuser and recovering about 0.65kg of heroin and a small amount of ‘Ice’.

Meanwhile, officers continued to tail the 50-year-old to Chai Chee, where he met a 52-year-old Singaporean male. Officers arrested both men and recovered about 0.47kg of heroin, wrapped in instant noodle packaging, from the 52-year-old. Cash of S$6,200 was found on the 50-year-old.

The 50-year-old trafficker was brought to his hideout at the industrial building in the vicinity of Woodlands Link. A search was conducted in an improvised room within the building, and 2 Erimin-5 tablets and a small amount of ‘Ice’ and heroin were recovered. Instant noodle packaging material, similar to that found on the 52-year-old and 60-year-old, were also recovered in the room.

Photo 1: Heroin and cash seized during a CNB operation on 27 July 2016.

Photo 2: Instant noodle packaging seized in a CNB operation on 27 July 2016.

Seizure of about 5kg of heroin on 29 July 2016

Separately, on 29 July at around 8.20pm, CNB officers were deployed in the vicinity of Circuit Road to conduct observation on a suspected drug trafficker, a 56-year-old Singaporean male. The 56-year-old was observed to have met up with a 36-year-old male Malaysian in the vicinity of Circuit Road and parted ways shortly. The 36-year-old was earlier observed to have entered a carpark in the vicinity of Circuit Road with his suspected accomplice, a 28-year-old female Malaysian.

All three suspected drug offenders were arrested shortly after. About 1kg of heroin was seized from the 56-year-old, while S$6,500 in cash was seized from the 28-year-old.

Officers proceeded to raid the hideout of the 56-year-old suspected drug trafficker. About 4kg of heroin was seized in total, with some of the heroin concealed in food packaging that was heat-sealed. Cash of over S$72,000 and some foreign currency were also recovered. The drugs seized were worth about $280,000. This seizure of about 5kg of heroin is the largest heroin seizure yet for this year.

Investigations into the drug activities of all suspected drug offenders are ongoing. The Misuse of Drugs Act allows for the death penalty if the amount of diamorphine (or pure heroin) trafficked exceeds 15g[1]. CNB will continue to stay vigilant against the harm of drugs, and prevent the flow of drugs to the ground.

Photo 3: Drugs concealed in food packaging, seized in a CNB operation on 29 July 2016.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
30 JULY 2016

[1] 15g of diamorphine is equivalent to 1,250 straws, which is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 180 abusers for a week. 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.