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SINGAPORE: Around 15 kg of drugs worth S $ 2.3 million were seized in two separate smuggling attempts through the Woodlands checkpoint.
In a joint press release on Wednesday (December 23), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said the attempts, which took place on December 18 and 21, sparked subsequent drug control operations.
Seven suspected drug offenders were arrested, including six men and one woman between the ages of 20 and 55.
A total of approximately 4,622 g of heroin, 5,393 g of ice, 5,482 g of cannabis, 247 g of ketamine, 5,111 ecstasy tablets, and 5,383 Erimin-5 tablets were seized.
The loot is enough to fuel the addiction of 2,200 heroin users, 3,080 ice users and 780 cannabis users for a week, ICA and CNB said.
TRUCKS REGISTERED IN MALAYSIA
In the first smuggling attempt, on December 18 at approximately 5.50 pm, seven packages of controlled drugs were found in a truck registered in Malaysia carrying a shipment of bean sprouts.
Heroin and ice found inside a Malaysian registered truck at Woodlands Checkpoint on December 18, 2020 (Photo: CNB / ICA)
The packages contained approximately 4,622 g of heroin and 521 g of ice.
The 38-year-old Malaysian driver and the 24-year-old passenger were arrested.
On the second attempt, on December 21, around 1.35 pm, a Malaysian-registered truck carrying furniture and vehicle parts raised suspicions among ICA officers at the Woodlands checkpoint.
Cannabis, ice and ecstasy tablets seized at the Woodlands checkpoint on December 21, 2020 (Photo: CNB / ICA)
Abnormalities were detected in the scanned X-ray images of the consignment declared as personal effects. Officers then found packages containing a total of 4,368 g of ice, 5,110 g of cannabis, 4,900 ecstasy tablets, and 4,750 Erimin-5 tablets, hidden within furniture.
The 44-year-old Malaysian driver and the 55-year-old passenger were subsequently arrested.
MONITORING OPERATIONS
In a follow-up operation, CNB agents raided a residential unit at Bedok North Street 2, where a 20-year-old Singaporean man was arrested and around 215g of cannabis was seized.
Another follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of two Singaporeans, a 22-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, in the vicinity of Geylang Lorong 26.
In total, about 504 g of ice, 157 g of cannabis, 247 g of ketamine, 211 ecstasy tablets and 633 Erimin-5 tablets were seized from the couple’s hideout.
Investigations into drug-related activities and suspects continue.
“Our borders are our first line of defense to safeguard Singapore’s security,” the agencies said.
“ICA has also stepped up security checks and checks at all checkpoints, as well as the frequency of patrols this holiday season.
“The ICA and the CNB will continue to carry out security checks at checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle undesirable people, drugs, weapons, explosives and other contraband across our borders.”
