About 3.6kg heroin worth more than $254,000 seized in CNB operation on 13 August 2015. Drugs were concealed in cabbages

On 13 August 2015, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) carried out an operation which saw the seizure of about 3.6kg of heroin, estimated to be worth more than S$254,000.  The drugs were packed and hidden using a method not encountered previously.  One suspected local drug trafficker and three suspected drug couriers were arrested. 

In the early hours of 13 August 2015, CNB officers were deployed in the vicinity of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8.  A local suspected drug trafficker was believed to be awaiting a fresh consignment of drugs at that location.  At about 5.45am, CNB officers noticed a white Malaysia-registered lorry arriving in the vicinity. 

A short while later, CNB officers spotted the suspected drug trafficker, a 46-year-old male Singaporean, approach the left-side of the lorry and handed over a plastic bag to one of the passengers in the lorry.  The 46-year-old male was spotted receiving four plastic bags in return.  Both parties went their separate ways thereafter.

CNB officers tailed the suspected drug trafficker to a coffeeshop in the vicinity and arrested him shortly thereafter.  The four plastic bags were found to contain eight cabbages in which eight bundles of heroin were concealed within [see photos below].

Photo-1: Cabbages where bundles of heroin were found concealed within, in CNB operation on 13 Aug 2015.

Photo-2: Bundle containing heroin, concealed within cabbage, in CNB operation on 13 Aug 2015.

At about 6.45am, the Malaysia-registered lorry was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint and three suspected drug couriers – a 32-year-old, a 28-year-old and a 25-year-old, all male Malaysians – were placed under arrest.  Cash of S$18,500 was found within a plastic bag placed behind the driver’s seat.

Photo-3: Malaysia-registered lorry intercepted at Woodlands Checkpoint on 13 Aug 2015

Investigations into the drug activities of the four men 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. 

CNB is committed to keeping the streets of Singapore safe from drugs.  CNB will remain vigilant to the methods which drug syndicates employ to smuggle their deadly wares into Singapore and act to intercept the drugs before they flow onto the streets.

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
13 AUGUST 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.