The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Wednesday (11 Nov) nailed its largest drug bust in 19 years after seizing almost S$2 million worth of drugs, including 14.1kg of heroin.
The last time the CNB bagged a haul of heroin this large was back in 2001 – which saw 14.9kg of the drug recovered.
A total of about 14,151g of heroin, 2,853g of ‘Ice’, 7,553g of cannabis, 323g of ‘Ecstasy’ fragments, 28 ‘Ecstasy’ tablets, 1,008 Erimin-5 tablets, and cash amounting to S$12,629 were seized from the operation that took place in multiple locations in Singapore, said the bureau in its statement earlier today (13 Nov).
Five people – comprising three men and two women – aged between 29 and 55 were arrested.
According to the CNB, its officers intercepted a vehicle in the vicinity of Siglap Road on Wednesday afternoon, and arrested three Singaporeans – a 55-year-old male driver, a 50-year-old male, and a 52-year-old female passenger – for suspected involvement.
A search was conducted in the vehicle, and three bundles containing about 1,453g of heroin were recovered.
About 3g of heroin and 2g of ‘Ice’ were seized from the 50-year-old male, and about 7g of ‘Ice’ and 20 ‘Ecstasy’ tablets were seized from the 52-year-old female.
The female suspect was then brought back to her hideout in Siglap Road, where more drugs were seized.
Meanwhile, a 35-year-old Singaporean male was arrested by a separate party of CNB officers conducting observation on a residential block in the vicinity of Bedok Reservoir Road.
A total of six bundles containing about 2,782g of heroin, a packet containing about 127g of ‘Ice’, five packets containing about 323g of Ecstasy fragments, and cash amounting to S$629 were recovered from him.
Officers then raided the man’s hideout in the same residential block, where a 29-year-old female Singaporean permanent resident (PR) was also apprehended within the unit.
A total of 29 packs containing about 8,958g of heroin, 15 packs containing about 1,952g of ‘Ice’, and four packs containing about 2,499g of cannabis, 1,007 Erimin-5 tablets, seven ‘Ecstasy’ tablets, and cash amounting to S$12,000 were seized from the unit.
Two bundles containing about 944g of heroin, three bundles containing about 763g of ‘Ice’, and five bundles containing about 5,054g of cannabis were further recovered upon searching the male suspect’s vehicle.
Investigations into the drug activities of all the suspects are ongoing.
The CNB noted that the total amount of drugs seized in the operation is sufficient to feed 6,740 heroin abusers, 1,630 ‘Ice’ abusers, and 1,080 cannabis abusers for a week.
“Drug traffickers take huge gambles by exploiting and capitalising on addiction and the misery that drug abuse brings to the family. CNB has been keeping a close watch on the drug situation and will not let up on our enforcement efforts,” said the bureau.
It continued, “CNB is committed to keeping the streets of Singapore safe from drugs, and would like to remind the public that the consumption, possession, trafficking, import or export of any controlled drugs is an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
“Singapore has strict laws for drug trafficking and CNB will continue to mount regular, sustained operations against drug traffickers and abusers alike, to keep the streets of Singapore drug-free.”