$340,000 worth of drugs seized in 2 operations

SINGAPORE - More than 5kg of cannabis, 600g of "Ice" and other drugs with an estimated street value of more than $340,000 have been seized by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in two separate operations.

On Sep 21, a male drug trafficker and his accomplice were caught by CNB officers using a car as a "mobile drug store".

The two local men, aged 34 and 29, were seen in the vicinity of Senoko Drive in a car at 1.45pm. A lorry driver approached their vehicle and placed a red plastic bag in the rear seat.

The men parted ways and later at 2.20pm, the lorry driver was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint and placed under arrest with the assistance of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

The two men were arrested along Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 at 2.30pm. The red plastic bag found in their vehicle was found to contain about 5kg of cannabis. Three tobacco packets containing 60g of cannabis was also found in the car.

A search of the 29-year-old man revealed three packets of "Ice" and cash amounting to $11,300.

A key retrieved from their vehicle turned out to be the key to their "mobile drug store" parked in a multi-storey carpark in Havelock.

Officers recovered a total of about 750g of cannabis, 350g of "Ice", a weighing scale, some drug paraphernalia and a chopper.

Cocktail of drugs seized at Balestier

In another operation conducted on the same day, officers arrested a suspected drug abuser along Balestier Road.

The 39-year-old Singaporean had a small amount of "Ice", ketamine and Erimin-5 tablets in his possession.

He was led to a hotel room in the area which is believed to be used as a drug store.

Officers found various types of drugs, including heroin and tablets of various colours from within the room. A digital weighing scale and two improvised drug-smoking apparatus were also seized.

Later that evening, officers arrested a Singaporean man, 43, suspected of drug abuse at the hotel.

Various drugs were found in his room, including heroin, "Ice" and ketamine. A digital weighing scale and numerous empty plastic packets were also found.

The same evening, a 40-year-old suspected drug trafficker was arrested along Balestier Road. He is believed to be the accomplice of the two men arrested earlier that day.

Officers recovered a total of about 300g of "Ice", 240g of ketamine, 3,602 Erimin-5 tablets, and cash amounting to $13,381 from him.

It was revealed that the man is also wanted in connection to an earlier case where about 1kg of cannabis and 167g of 'Ice' were seized on Sep 15.

Investigations against all the arrested persons are on-going.

If convicted, those who have trafficked more than 500g of cannabis or more than 250g of methamphetamine may face the death penalty.

wjeanne@sph.com.sg