SINGAPORE - More than $314,000 worth of drugs were seized during an intensive island-wide operation carried out by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) earlier this week.
The 72-hour operation, which took place between Monday (5 Oct) and Thursday (8 Oct), saw 26 suspected drug traffickers and 55 suspected drug abusers arrested. The total haul of drugs includes about 3kg of heroin, 495g of 'Ice', 326 'Estacy' tablets, 64 Erimin-5 tablets, 42g of cannabis and a small amount of new psychoactive substances.
In one case, CNB officers seized more than 1.5kg of heroin and 38g of 'Ice', estimated to be worth about $116,000.
In the drug bust, which started on Monday night (Oct 5), CNB officers deployed in the vicinity of Woodlands Crescent arrested a suspected drug trafficker and a suspected drug courier. The suspected trafficker, a 42-year-old Singaporean woman, had 1,567g of heroin and 27g of 'Ice' on her person. CNB officers also recovered $9,120 in cash from the suspected courier, a 36-year-old Malaysian man.
A raid of the suspected trafficker's hideout uncovered another 11g of 'Ice' as well as 30 Erimin-5 tablets and a small amount of heroin. The trafficker's associate, a 64-year-old Singaporean man, as well as a 47-year-old Singaporean woman suspected of abusing drugs, were arrested as well.
CNB's operation also busted a drug ring based in Jurong West, recovering 926g of heroin and 438g of 'Ice' with worth about $143,000.
On Tuesday night, CNB officers deployed in Jurong West observed a Singapore-registered black car meeting up with a Malaysian-registered lorry.
The officers tailed the car and arrested four suspected drug traffickers, including the car's driver, a 22-year-old Singaporean man. A search of the car recovered 131g of 'Ice'.
Another group of officers who tailed the Malaysian-registered truck arrested the vehicle's driver and passenger, both 30-year-old Malaysian men, near Tuas Checkpoint. The men are suspected to be drug couriers.
The CNB said that investigations are ongoing.
According to the Misuse of Drugs Act, people convicted of trafficking more than 15g of diamorphine (or pure heroin), or more than 250g of methamphetamine may face the death penalty. Just 15g of pure heroin is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 180 abusers for a week, while 250g of methamphetamine is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 185 abusers for a week.
