On 29 October 2015, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) carried out two separate operations which netted a total of about 1.2kg of heroin, 445g of cannabis, 69g of ‘Ice’ and 183 ‘Ecstasy’ tablets. The haul of drugs is estimated to be worth more than S$118,000. A total of 4 suspected drug offenders, all Singaporeans, were arrested.
‘Orange Grove’ Drug Store
In the late-morning of 29 October 2015, CNB officers raided a suspected drug store in a private apartment at Orange Grove Road. The suspected drug trafficker had just replenished his stock of drugs.
After CNB officers entered the suspected drug store, a second-floor unit, officers noticed that the master bedroom window of the unit was broken. Officers noticed two male suspects at the ground floor and they subsequently entered a vacant unit on the ground floor. Both male suspects, aged 30 and 32, were arrested within the vacant unit. They were then brought to their rented cars. A search of both rented cars was conducted and about 12g of heroin and 9g of ‘Ice’ were recovered from the car rented by the 30-year-old male.
A search of the second floor unit was done and drugs were recovered from the master bedroom. Officers also recovered drugs contained within a pouch found on the ledge outside the unit. About 704g of heroin, 445g of cannabis, 59g of ‘Ice’ and 183 ‘Ecstasy’ tablets were recovered. Knives, parangs and a replica gun were recovered from within the unit. Cash of S$6,024 was also recovered [see photos below].
Photo-1: Weapons recovered in CNB operation at Orange Grove on 29 Oct 2015.
Photo-2: Replica gun recovered in CNB operation at Orange Grove on 29 Oct 2015.
Photo-3: Drugs within a pouch recovered from ledge outside a unit, in CNB operation at Orange Grove on 29 Oct 2015
Drug Supplier & Trafficker Client Arrested
In a separate operation in the late-afternoon of the same day, CNB officers were deployed in the vicinity of Boon Lay Drive to apprehend a suspected drug supplier who was delivering a consignment of drugs to his client. Officers spotted the suspected supplier, a 38-year-old male, entering a carpark in a blue-coloured car. He then met up with the suspected trafficker, a 41-year-old female, at the second floor of the block and both parted ways shortly after.
CNB officers arrested the suspected supplier before he got back into his car. A search of the car was conducted and officers found about 228g of heroin contained in a bag at the front passenger seat. Another 40g of heroin was found concealed in a compartment behind the rear seat [see photo below].
Photo-4: Heroin found in a pouch hidden in compartment behind rear seat of car [CNB operation, 29 Oct 2015].
Simultaneously, another party of CNB officers raided the unit of the 41-year-old female suspected trafficker. About 91g of heroin, a small amount of ‘Ice’ and a digital weighing scale were recovered from within the unit.
The 38-year-old suspected drug supplier was brought back to his hideout in Jalan Bukit Merah and a search of the hideout recovered about 157g of heroin that was wrapped in newspaper and hidden inside a soft toy.
Investigations into the drug activities of the four suspects are ongoing. If convicted, the four 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. 15g of diamorphine is equivalent to 1,250 straws[1], which is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 180 abusers for a week.
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
30 OCTOBER 2015
[1] This is estimated using a typical purity level of 4%, based on drug seizures in recent years. The number of straws that are actually made may vary according to the purity level of the heroin used in the straws.
