Four arrested, 2.2kg of heroin seized in operation to nab suspected drug trafficker

SINGAPORE — An operation to arrest a suspected drug trafficker yesterday (May 27) resulted in four arrests and the seizure of 2.2kg of heroin as well as S$14,400 in cash.

The heroin was estimated to be worth more than S$154,000.

Officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) were deployed yesterday evening in the vicinity of Tampines North where the suspected drug trafficker, a 38-year-old Singaporean man, was believed to be awaiting a fresh consignment of drugs, said the CNB in a press release today.

At about 8.10pm, the officers saw another man — a 27-year-old Malaysian — meet up with the suspected drug trafficker inside a commercial building in the area. The Malaysian man was carrying a green-coloured bag. The duo headed to a side staircase in the building and when the Malaysian man left some 25 minutes later, he was no longer carrying the bag.

The suspected trafficker was arrested shortly after 9.20pm within the building, and about 1.4kg of heroin was found in the green bag. Another 0.8kg of heroin, along with paraphernalia and cash amounting to S$6,400 was recovered in the man’s locker at the building.

The Malaysian man, who was being tracked by CNB officers, was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint and cash amounting to S$8,000 was recovered from him and his 26-year-old female Malaysian travelling companion.

In a follow-up investigation, CNB officers arrested another 27-year-old Singaporean man in Simei.

Investigation into the three men and one woman are currently ongoing. If convicted, the 38-year-old Singaporean man and the 27-year-old Malaysian man may face the death penalty. The Misuse of Drugs Act provides for the death penalty if the amount of diamorphine, or pure heroin, trafficked exceeds 15g.