Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs in an arriving Malaysia-registered vehicle passing through the Woodlands Checkpoint on May 18.
About 17,704g of heroin, 261g of ‘ice’ and 2g of ‘Ecstasy’ tablets, worth close to S$1,295,000, was seized by officers, said ICA in a media release on Friday (May 20).
The detection prompted subsequent enforcement operations by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). Three suspected male Malaysian drug offenders aged between 23 and 28 were arrested at multiple locations in Singapore on May 18 and 19.
The drugs seized are sufficient to feed the addiction of about 8,430 heroin abusers and 150 ‘Ice’ abusers for a week, noted ICA.
The Malaysia-registered car entered the immigration clearance lane on May 18 and was subjected to routine checks.
Bundles of the suspected drugs were discovered in the car boot, resulting in the 28-year-old Malaysian driver’s immediate arrest.
Early morning of May 19, CNB officers arrested two other Malaysian men in the vicinity of Bedok North Street 1. They were suspected to be the intended recipients of the packages, said ICA.
Investigations into the drug activities and suspects are ongoing.
Under Section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act, it is an offence for a person, on his or her own behalf, or on behalf of any other person, whether or not that other person is in Singapore, to traffic in a controlled drug, offer to traffic in a controlled drug; or to do or offer to do any act preparatory to or for the purpose of trafficking in a controlled drug.
If a person is found guilty of trafficking more than 15g of pure heroin (diamorphine) or 250g of methamphetamine, he or she may face the mandatory death penalty.
“Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore. The ICA and CNB will continue to conduct security checks at the checkpoints to prevent attempts to smuggle undesirable persons, weapons, explosives, controlled drugs and other contrabands across our borders,” said ICA./TISG
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