CNB seizes drugs that were sent by post

SINGAPORE - The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has seized a packet of drugs that was sent to Singapore using the postal system.

The discovery was made yesterday afternoon when an Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer at the ICA Parcel Post Section found a suspicious parcel which had arrived from a neigbouring country and was declared to contain books.

The officer then directed the parcel for further checks and was found to contain a locked safe box disguised as a book.

About 103g of ketamine and 299 Ecstasy tablets were found within the safe box.

The items were handed over to CNB officers, who raided a unit in Marsiling Drive after follow-up investigations.

CNB officers found within the unit about 37g of 'Ice', a small amount of ketamine, 120 Erimin-5 tablets and various capsules and tablets suspecetd to contain controlled drugs.

A 25-year-old Singaporean man, suspected of being the importer and recipient of the package, was arrested.

Investigations are ongoing. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, those convicted of importing Class A controlled drugs face at least five years jail term and five strokes of the cane.

CNB and ICA will continue to conduct checks on items brought in via the checkpoints or the postal system to prevent attempts to smuggle in contrabands such as controlled drugs, weapons and explosives, said CNB in a statement.

klim@sph.com.sg