7 arrested, almost S$2.3m worth of drugs seized during 2-day drug bust

SINGAPORE — Seven people were arrested and drugs estimated to be worth close to S$2.3 million were seized by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in various locations across Singapore on Dec 18 and 21.

Six men and one woman aged between 20 and 55 were rounded up as suspects, ICA and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said in a joint news release on Wednesday (Dec 23).

Drugs were found to be concealed in two Malaysia-registered lorries entering Singapore via Woodlands Checkpoint. This prompted subsequent anti-drug enforcement operations by CNB.

The items seized were:

• 4,622g of heroin

• 5,393g of methamphetamine, also known as “Ice”

• 5,482g of cannabis

• 247g of ketamine

• 5,111 "Ecstasy" tablets

• 5,383 Erimin-5 tablets

The total amount of drugs seized is enough to feed the addiction of 2,200 heroin abusers, 3,080 methamphetamine abusers and 780 cannabis abusers for a week, CNB and ICA said.

AT WOODLANDS CHECKPOINT

Last Friday at about 5.50pm, a Malaysia-registered lorry transporting a consignment of beansprouts was referred by ICA officers for further checks.

Seven bundles of controlled drugs — containing about 4,622g of heroin and 521g of methamphetamine — were found.

The 38-year-old male Malaysian driver and 24-year-old male passenger were arrested and referred to CNB for investigation.

In the second case on Monday at about 1.35pm, a Malaysia-registered lorry transporting furniture and spare vehicle parts was similarly directed for further checks. 

The officers noticed anomalies in the scanned X-ray images of the consignment declared as “personal effect”.

Packages containing 4,368g of methamphetamine, 5,110g of cannabis, 4,900 Ecstasy tablets and 4,750 Erimin-5 tablets were found hidden within furniture.

The 44-year-old male Malaysian driver and 55-year-old male passenger were arrested and referred to the CNB for investigation.

OPERATIONS NEAR BEDOK, GEYLANG

In a follow-up raid on Monday, CNB officers searched a residential unit in the vicinity of Bedok North Street 2 and arrested a 20-year-old Singaporean man.

Around 215g of cannabis was also found in the unit.

In another follow-up operation, CNB officers arrested a 22-year-old Singaporean man and 22-year-old Singaporean woman near Geylang Lorong 26.

A total of about 504g of methamphetamine, 157g of cannabis, 247g of ketamine, 211 Ecstasy tablets and 633 Erimin-5 tablets were seized from the couple’s hideout in the area.

Investigations into the drug activities and suspects are ongoing. 

ICA and CNB said: “Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore’s security. ICA has also stepped up security checks and screening at all checkpoints, as well as the frequency of patrols during this festive season.

"(We) will continue to conduct security checks at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands across our borders.”