SEVEN alleged members of a heroin-trafficking syndicate were charged on Wednesday with a series of drug-related crimes.

If convicted, the five men and two women face a mandatory death penalty.

They were arrested on Monday, following what narcotics officers called their biggest drug haul in five years.

Central Narcotics Bureau officers seized a total of 10kg of heroin with a street value of $1.5 million and cash totalling $400,000.

Sidek Zainal, 48, and Zhawiah Mohammed Nasir, 50, are accused of passing a car tyre containing 9.5kg of heroin to Noorazni Ithnin, 38, at a Whampoa Drive carpark on Monday.

Noorazni, the alleged ringleader, and Nurisha Mohammed, 19, are said to have had the heroin, packed into 21 bundles, in their possession for trafficking.

In the same court, Mohammad Suhaimi Zaini, 59, is accused of being part of a conspiracy to traffic heroin along with Noorazni and other unnamed persons.

A 44-year-old man, Liyakath Ali Maideen, was charged with having 23 packets containing about 186.67g of heroin, for trafficking, at a flat in Jalan Bukit Merah.

The fifth man, Mohammed Kasman Abdul Latiff, 35, allegedly had 21 packets containing 165g of heroin, bound for the streets, at Moonstone Apartment in Moonstone Lane in Serangoon.

All were remanded for a week for investigation.

They will be back in court next Wednesday.