About 930g of heroin seized at Woodlands checkpoint

On 7 May 2016 at about 11.45am, a Malaysia-registered car driven by a 24-year-old male Malaysian was stopped by officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for checks upon arrival at Woodlands Checkpoint.

In the course of inspection, ICA officers found two bundles suspected to be heroin behind the glove compartment. Officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) were immediately alerted.

From follow-up investigations conducted by CNB, two other suspects were arrested. Both suspects are 30-year-old male Malaysians.

The two bundles were found to contain approximately 930g of heroin, estimated to be worth more than S$65,000. The three suspects are being investigated for drug trafficking.

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.

Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security, and security checks are critical to our nation’s security. The Home Team agencies will continue to conduct checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU

8 MAY 2016

(CNB photo): Heroin seized at Woodlands Checkpoint on 7 May 2016.

(CNB photo): Car driven by 24-year-old male Malaysian arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint on 7 May 2016.

[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.