More than 6kg of drugs seized within 24 hours, two men arrested

On 18 December 2014, about 5.9kg of cannabis and 465g of heroin were seized at the Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints respectively. The seized drugs had an estimated street value of more than S$227,000.

Cannabis seizure at Woodlands Checkpoint

At about 7.55pm yesterday, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers conducted a routine check on a Malaysia-registered car upon arrival. The car was driven by an 18-year-old male Malaysian. ICA officers recovered two blocks in white wrapping, suspected to be cannabis, from the front engine’s air filter compartment of the car. Officers from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) were immediately alerted of the detection. A further search of the car led to the recovery of four more blocks, suspected to be cannabis, hidden behind the driver’s seat backrest and the front passenger’s seat backrest.

A total of six blocks of cannabis, weighing approximately 5918g amounting to a potential street value of more than S$195,000 were seized.

Heroin seizure at Tuas Checkpoint

At about 9.45pm on the same day, the ICA officers at the Tuas Checkpoint had also stopped a Malaysia-registered car upon arrival for routine checks. During the course of their checks, the officers found a black bundle in the arm rest compartment. The black bundle, suspected to contain about 465g of heroin was seized. The heroin seized had an estimated street worth of more than S$32,000. The driver, a 23-year-old male Malaysian and the exhibit found were similarly handed over to CNB for further investigations.

Investigations are ongoing. If convicted, they 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. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, those convicted of trafficking in more than 500g of cannabis may face the death penalty.

The Home Team agencies will continue to conduct checks on passengers and vehicles at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle in undesirable persons, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contrabands.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
19 DECEMBER 2014

[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.