Two drug syndicates busted - About 2.3kg of heroin and about 1.8kg of Ice seized in two CNB operations

Syndicate Busted at Vicinity of Yung Kuang Road

On 3 August 2015, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) mounted an operation that crippled the activities of a drug syndicate. In this operation, a 38-year-old Singaporean male, who is the suspected syndicate leader, was arrested together with two suspected drug traffickers. About 2.3kg of heroin, 72g of ‘Ice’, 85g of cannabis and 13 Erimin-5 tablets were seized.  The drugs have an estimated street value of more than S$177,000. 

The suspected syndicate leader and his accomplice, a 22-year-old female Singaporean, were arrested in a unit at Yung Kuang Road.  About one kg of heroin, ‘Ice’, drug taking paraphernalia and $3,550 cash were recovered from the unit.  

Further investigations led to the arrest of another suspected drug trafficker, a 42-year-old male Singaporean, at Jurong West. Officers seized more than one kg of heroin, about 85g of cannabis, 72g of ‘Ice’ and 13 Erimin-5 tablets from the 42-year-old’s residence.

Photo 1: Drugs seized in CNB operation at Yung Kuang Road on 3 August 2015

Syndicate Busted at Vicinity of Compassvale

In a separate operation which was also carried out on 3 Aug, CNB arrested another suspected drug syndicate leader, two suspected drug traffickers, one accomplice and four clients. About 1.8 kg of ‘Ice’, with an estimated street value of about $324, 000, was seized in this operation. This drug syndicate was suspected to be receiving the drugs from overseas, by mail. The suspected drug traffickers would then repack the ‘Ice’ for sale in Singapore.   

The syndicate’s drug store was located in a unit in the Sengkang area. CNB officers mounted an operation in the vicinity of Compassvale Lane and arrested two suspected drug traffickers and four clients, all male Singaporeans. The six men are a 20-year-old, a 21-year-old, an 18-year-old, a 19-year-old, a 22-year-old and a 31-year-old respectively. An accomplice, a 21-year-old female Singaporean, was also arrested. 

A search of the drug store recovered about 1.5kg of ‘Ice’, and follow up investigations led to the arrest of the suspected syndicate leader, a 29-year old male Singaporean, in Jurong West. 

Investigations into the drug trafficking activities from the two separate cases are ongoing. The Misuse of Drugs Act provides for the death penalty if the amount of diamorphine (or pure heroin) trafficked exceeds 15g, and if the amount of methamphetamine trafficked exceeds 250g. 15g of diamorphine is equivalent to 1,250 straws[1], which is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 180 abusers for a week, while 250g of methamphetamine is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 185 abusers for a week[2]. 

Photo 2: Close-up view of ‘Ice’ seized in CNB operation at Compassvale on 3 August 2015

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
4 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

[2] This is estimated using a typical purity level of about 77%, based on drug seizures in recent years.