4 people arrested, S$480,000 worth of drugs seized in haul that included more than 6kg of heroin

SINGAPORE — Four Singaporeans were arrested and drugs worth an estimated S$480,000 were seized during a drug bust by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), the agency said on Thursday (Feb 2). 

In a press statement, CNB said that the four suspects, who were aged between 36 and 54, were arrested for alleged drug offences during its operation on Tuesday.

About 6.78kg of heroin, 9g of Ice, 22g of cannabis, 102 Erimin-5 tablets and 14 bottles of methadone were seized.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) Aaron Tang, CNB's director of the intelligence division, said that the amount of heroin confiscated could feed the addiction of about 3,200 drug abusers for a week.

"Should the drugs that were seized from the operation be circulated in Singapore, the lives of these 3,200 abusers and their families would have been destroyed," he added.

During the drug bust, CNB's officers arrested a 49-year-old man and 36-year-old woman at a housing block near Jurong West Street 93 for suspected drug trafficking offences. 

While officers were about to arrest both suspects, the man put up a violent struggle and "necessary force was used to subdue him", CNB said. 

Officers then seized several packets and straws containing about 70g of heroin from the man. 

After the couple's arrest, the officers raided the man’s home located in the same block, where a 51-year-old man and 54-year-old man were arrested.

About 7g of heroin, two Erimin-5 tablets and five bottles of methadone were seized from various locations in the unit.

CNB added that before the arrests, suspected controlled drugs — including packets containing about 32g of heroin — were believed to have been thrown out of the unit’s window.

These drugs were later recovered by its officers. 

The rest of the heroin, Ice (the street name for methamphetamine), cannabis, Erimin-5 tablets and methadone were found at the first man's suspected hideout located in the same block. 

DAC Tang said: "There is no place for drugs in our society. Our officers will continue to be tenacious in following up on all suspected drug leads by carefully gathering intelligence and launching well-timed operations to take these offenders out.”

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, it is an offence for anyone to traffic or offer to traffic in a controlled drug.

This is regardless of whether they are doing it on their own behalf, or on the behalf of another person. 

If found guilty of trafficking more than 15g of diamorphine (or pure heroin), the offender may face the mandatory death penalty.

Investigations are ongoing, the bureau said in its statement.

CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this report stated that the authorities seized 6.788kg of heroin, which was rounded to 6.79kg. CNB clarified that the amount was 6.781kg.