2.2kg Heroin Seized, Two Malaysians Among Four Arrested

SINGAPORE, May 29 (Bernama) -- About 2.2 kg of heroin estimated to be worth more than S$154,000 was seized along with cash of S$14,400, in an operation carried out by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Wednesday. Four people comprising two Singaporean men, one Malaysian man and one Malaysian woman were arrested. In a statement Thursday, CNB said the operation was carried out to arrest a suspected drug trafficker who was believed to be receiving a fresh consignment of drugs. In the evening hours of Wednesday, CNB officers were deployed in the vicinity of Tampines North, where the suspected drug trafficker, a 38-year-old male Singaporean, was believed to be awaiting a fresh consignment of drugs. At about 8.10pm, CNB officers spotted a man who was carrying a green-coloured bag, meeting up with the suspected drug trafficker inside a commercial building in the area. Both men were observed together within the building, where they proceeded to a side staircase of the building. At about 8.35pm, the man left the area in a taxi, without the green bag. CNB officers continued to track him. At about 9.20pm, the suspected trafficker left the side staircase with the green bag. He was then arrested and about 1.4 kg of heroin was found in the bag. A further search of the man's locker at the commercial building recovered another 0.8 kg of heroin, along with drug paraphernalia and S$6,400 in cash. Meanwhile, the other male, a 27-year-old Malaysian, was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint when he was attempting to exit Singapore. Cash of S$8,000 was recovered from him and his 26-year-old Malaysian travelling companion. In a follow-up investigation, CNB officers arrested another 27-year-old Singaporean male in Simei. Investigation into the three men and the woman are ongoing. If convicted, CNB said the 38-year-old Singaporean male and 27-year-old Malaysian male might face the death penalty. The Misuse of Drugs Act provides for the death penalty if the amount of diamorphine (pure heroin) trafficked exceeds 15 gm. --BERNAMA