7 arrested, 7.5kg of drugs worth over half a million dollars seized

SINGAPORE — The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) seized over 7.5kg of heroin and other drugs estimated to be worth over half a million dollars and arrested a total of seven people in two separate drug busts this week.

One of the operations netted over 5kg of heroin — the largest heroin seizure so far this year.

On Friday (July 29), CNB officers nabbed a 56-year-old Singaporean man suspected to be a drug trafficker, and two Malaysians — a 36-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman — near Circuit Road. About 1kg of heroin was seized from the suspected trafficker, along with S$6,500 in cash found on the woman.

When officers raided the suspected trafficker’s hideout, another 4kg of heroin was seized, with some heroin concealed in heat-sealed food packaging. Some S$72,000 in cash along with foreign currency were also found. In total, the drugs seized in this raid were worth around S$280,000 and the combined seizure of over 5kg of heroin makes this haul the largest yet this year, the CNB said in a press release on Saturday (July 30).

In a separate drug bust earlier, a 50-year-old suspected drug trafficker met with a 60-year-old drug client in the vicinity of Tampines Street 21. When the two Singaporean men parted ways, CNB officers arrested the 60-year-old and recovered about 1.4kg of heroin from him. Officers then raided the elder man’s unit where another 0.65kg of heroin and a small amount of ‘Ice’ was found. A 48-year-old suspected drug abuser who was in the unit was also arrested.

CNB officers also tailed the 50-year-old suspected drug trafficker to Chai Chee where he met with a 52-year-old Singaporean man. Both men were arrested and about 0.47kg of heroin wrapped in instant noodle packaging was seized from the 52-year-old, while S$6,200 was found on the suspected trafficker.

An investigation of the trafficker’s hideout in Woodlands link led to the discovery of more drugs — Erimin-5 tablets, ‘Ice’ and more heroin. Instant noodle packaging material similar to that found earlier were also found.

Investigations of all suspected drug offenders are still ongoing. The Misuse of Drugs Act allows for the death penalty if the amount of pure heroin trafficked exceeds 15g.