CNB seizes largest heroin haul of the year while smashing syndicate

SINGAPORE - Central Narcotics Board (CNB) officers seized their single largest heroin haul of the year to date - almost 6.5kg - as they smashed an alleged drug syndicate on Tuesday.

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

Here is the statement from the CNB:

A severe blow was dealt to the local supply of drugs on 23 Sept 2014 when Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) seized about 6.5kg of heroin and about 1.3kg of cannabis and other drugs in an operation. This was the largest single haul of heroin this year so far.

On Sept 23, CNB launched an operation to dismantle a local drug syndicate which was believed to have been bringing in sizeable amount of drugs from a neighbouring country and distributing to the local market.

The operation was carried out at a commercial building in Geylang. At about 8.50pm, CNB officers arrested two Singaporean males aged 44 and 46 in their car parked in the commercial building’s compound. About 535g of heroin were recovered from the car and a small amount of Ice was recovered from the 46-year-old.

CNB officers raided an unit in the same commercial building; which was believed to be the syndicate’s hideout. More drugs, about 5.5kg of heroin, 1.3kg of cannabis, and other drugs including Ice, ecstasy, Erimin-5 tablets and more than $12,000 were seized from the unit.

Another about 460g of heroin were found in the 44-year-old male’s residence at Jalan Kayu.

In total, about 6.5kg of heroin, 1.3kg of cannabis, small amounts of other drugs and more than $12,000 were seized in the entire operation. The drugs have a street value of about $506,000.

Investigations are ongoing. If convicted, the two men may face the death penalty.

Director of the CNB Mr Ng Ser Song said, “The large amount of heroin seized could potentially feed the addiction of about 3125 heroin abusers for a week. CNB will continue to clamp down on drug traffickers and syndicates to stop the drugs from flowing onto Singapore’s streets. Let this be a warning to the drug syndicates out there that Singapore will not tolerate any illicit drug activities.”

15g of diamorphine is equivalent to 1,250 straws, which is sufficient to feed the addiction of about 180 abusers for a week. This is estimated using a typical purity level of 4 per cent, 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.)