CNB drug bust nets largest haul of cannabis in 14 years

SINGAPORE — In the largest seizure of cannabis in 14 years, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) this week impounded more than 20.5kg of the drug and arrested three men over suspected drug-related crimes. 

The seizure is the biggest since the authorities confiscated 20.6kg of the illegal drug in 2007.

In all, CNB officers seized more than 35kg of drugs in its latest operation that spanned two days. The drugs were worth nearly S$1.7 million. 

Aside from cannabis, the operation netted about 8.3kg of heroin; 6.4kg of crystalline methamphetamine, otherwise known as ice; 1,091 Ecstasy tablets; and 1,000 Erimin-5 tablets.

The drugs were enough to feed more than 10,000 abusers for a week, CNB said. 

Superintendent Aaron Tang, director of CNB’s intelligence division, said the bureau received targeted information on the three men’s activities. 

“As and when the CNB has information on traffickers who want to profit off the misery and addiction of abusers, we will not hesitate to take them out,” he told reporters at the CNB headquarters along New Bridge Road in Chinatown on Thursday (March 18).

The men, aged between 27 and 33, have been charged with drug trafficking.

THE OPERATION

On Tuesday evening, CNB officers intercepted a car near Kempas Road in Bendemeer. They arrested a 33-year-old driver and his 27-year-old passenger.

Inside the vehicle were 20 packets of ice each weighing 419g and 87 Ecstasy tablets. 

The 33-year-old man was taken to his nearby residence, a public housing flat close to McNair Road. There, officers found 19 packets of heroin weighing about 8.3kg; 20 packets of ice weighing around 5kg; 20 bundles of cannabis weighing 20.5kg; about 1,000 Ecstasy tablets; and 100 Erimin-5 tablets. 

The drugs were seized from a storeroom in the unit.

His 27-year-old passenger was escorted to his motorcycle parked nearby that evening. Three packets of ice weighing about 1kg, four Ecstasy tablets and 900 Erimin-5 tablets were recovered.

On Wednesday, CNB nabbed a 30-year-old man near McNair Road for his suspected involvement in the case. The bureau did not give more details about this man.

Investigations are continuing.

Supt Tang said the drug bust showed that the availability of cannabis remained a clear and present threat to Singapore society. 

“Many pro-cannabis lobby groups continue to make many unverified claims to encourage the use of cannabis, despite robust and well-documented studies on the harms of cannabis. 

“We need to dispel the myth, which may mislead others to think that cannabis is safe, and create a drug-free environment for our kids to grow up in,” he said.