Over 28 years’ jail, 18 strokes of cane for man who used a drone to bring drugs into S’pore

SINGAPORE – When the Covid-19 lockdown made it more difficult to obtain narcotics in Singapore, one man came up with a plan that used a drone to transport pouches of controlled drugs, including methamphetamine, into Singapore from Malaysia.

On Oct 16, Helmie Shahrezza Shahrom was sentenced to 28 years and three months’ jail, with 18 strokes of the cane.

Three other men involved in the case had been dealt with earlier and handed jail sentences ranging from 12 to 14 years.

Mohamad Shahrezza Mohammad Zuhri piloted the drone, Mohamad Hasri Ab Rahim acted as lookout, and Mohammad Nazri Jumat attached the pouches of drugs to the drone in Malaysia.

Hasri and Nazri were each also handed 10 strokes of the cane.

Helmie, a 34-year-old Singaporean, was the only one to claim trial to his charges as he denied knowing the drone would be carrying drugs on the day he was caught.

After a trial on Sept 4,

he was found guilty of importation of drugs into Singapore

, as well as consuming a controlled drug in and outside of Singapore.

Dressed in a purple prison jumpsuit with a bandaged left hand, the bespectacled man gestured often to his friends and family from the dock as the sentence was being read out by District Judge Jasvender Kaur.

Noting the severity of his offences, the judge pointed to Helmie’s role in controlling the operation to bring in the drugs.

Helmie had devised a plan to use a drone to transport drugs from across the border.

Furthermore, he had committed the offences while out on bail for two prior drug-related offences, including the possession of controlled drugs.

While Helmie’s lawyer argued for parity in sentencing with the three co-accused, the judge said parity would not apply in this case as Helmie was being sentenced for a different charge.

He was convicted for bringing in more than 180mg of methamphetamine, whereas the three co-accused were convicted on a reduced charge of importing around 166g of the same substance, she added.

It was not explained in court on Oct 16 why Helmie’s co-accused were convicted of importing a lesser amount of drugs.

The judge also pointed out that Helmie had 23 charges taken into consideration for his sentencing, including three drug trafficking charges.

Around April 2020, Hasri sought Helmie’s help to procure narcotics for him as he was having difficulty finding suppliers during the lockdown. Helmie then engaged Mohamad Shahrezza to operate a drone to transport drugs from Malaysia into Singapore.

The operation took place two to three times a week at a Kranji park at a time when Covid-19 restrictions were in place.

He was caught after the authorities detected the drone returning to Singapore in the airspace over Kranji Reservoir Park at around 6pm on June 17, 2020.

Police officers found a pouch containing more than 180g of methamphetamine attached to the drone.

Helmie was arrested on the same day and has been in remand since.