1kg of cannabis seized at Woodlands Checkpoint

SINGAPORE — About 1kg of cannabis with an estimated street value of more than S$33,000 was seized from a suspected drug importer on Saturday at Woodlands Checkpoint.

According to a joint statement released by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) yesterday, CNB officers were alerted by the ICA to a suspected drug importation at about 1.05pm on Saturday.

Upon conducting a routine check on a Malaysia-registered car, they recovered one block of “vegetable matter” — which they suspected to be cannabis — from the engine compartment of the car. The driver, a 37-year-old Malaysian man, was arrested and investigations are ongoing.

According to the most recent Drug Situation report for January to June this year, cannabis is the third most commonly-abused drug among abusers here, behind methamphetamine and heroin.

About 5 per cent of all drug abusers arrested abused cannabis.

There were several other seizures of cannabis this month, including 5kg worth at Woodlands Checkpoint on Nov 6 with a potential street value of more than S$167,000. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, those convicted of importing more than 500g of cannabis may face the death penalty.