On 16 March 2015, the Central Narcotics Bureau launched two operations which saw the seizure of a large haul of drugs, including more than 5.2kg of cannabis, 1.6kg of heroin and 139g of ‘Ice’. The total amount of drugs seized from these two operations had an estimated street value of more than S$316,000.
Large cannabis haul at Sims Drive
On the afternoon of 16 March 2015, CNB officers were deployed in the vicinity of Sim Drive to conduct observation on a suspected local drug trafficker believed to be dealing in a large amount of cannabis. At about 4.40pm, CNB officers spotted the 43-year-old male suspected drug trafficker at the void deck of a block, together with a 41-year-old male. Both men were placed under arrest.
A search of the 43-year-old recovered a total of about 170g of cannabis. A subsequent search of the suspected drug store of the 43-year-old, a HDB unit at Sims Drive, saw the recovery of about 5,060g of cannabis and 139g of ‘Ice’.
‘Drug Taxi’
On the afternoon of 16 March 2015, CNB officers were deployed in Simei to apprehend a 48-year-old male suspected drug trafficker who was also a taxi driver. At about 5.10pm, the suspect was spotted and was tailed to the vicinity of a carpark in a housing estate in Geylang Bahru. A 64-year-old male suspected drug trafficker was seen boarding the taxi but alighted from it shortly thereafter. CNB officers then moved in to arrest the 64-year-old and about 239g of heroin was recovered from him.
Another party of officers intercepted the taxi along Serangoon Road and the 48-year-old male was immediately placed under arrest. Officers recovered a total of about 1,443g of heroin and a small amount of ‘Ice’ from within the taxi. Cash amounting to S$2,215.60 was also seized from the suspect.
From follow-up investigations, CNB officers proceeded to raid a unit in the vicinity of Choa Chu Kang North 6, believed to be the hideout of an associate of the taxi driver. Officers arrested a 52-year-old male from within the unit and about 82g of ‘Ice’, 7g of heroin and a digital weighing scale were recovered from within the unit.
Investigations into the drug activities of the men, all Singaporeans, are ongoing. The Misuse of Drugs Act 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[1], which is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 180 abusers for a week. The 1.6kg of heroin seized in this operation is enough to feed the addiction of about 760 heroin abusers for a week. Those convicted of trafficking in more than 500g of cannabis may also face the death penalty.
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
17 MARCH 2015
Photo 1: Cannabis and ‘Ice’ seized from CNB operation at Sims Drive on 16 March 2015.
Photo 2: Heroin & cash seized in CNB operation at Geylang Bahru on 16 March 2015.
Photo 3: Taxi belonging to suspected drug trafficker arrested in CNB operation on 16 March 2015.
[1] 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.
