Singapore's anti-narcotics agency announced today it had made its biggest seizure of cannabis in 25 years in a bust in the city-state, which has some of the world's toughest narcotics laws including capital punishment.
The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) seized about 23.7 kg (52.25 lb)of cannabis and 16.5 kg of heroin, as well as crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy tablets, it said in a statement. CNB officers arrested a 22-year-old Malaysian male in the vicinity of Choa Chu Kang Ave 4 in possession of four bundles containing about 3.9 kg of cannabis.
From his hideout, a total of eight bundles containing about 3.78 kg of heroin and two bundles containing about 2.03 kg of ‘Ice’, and 110 ‘Ecstasy’ tablets were seized from his bedroom, while a total of 27 bundles containing about 12.76 kg of heroin and 20 bundles containing about 19.77 kg of cannabis were further seized from the storeroom.
The cannabis haul was the largest since 1996 and the heroin seizure the biggest since 2001. The drugs are estimated to be worth more than SGD 2.3 million (USD 1.7 million), according to the CNB.
The wealthy city-state has a zero-tolerance policy for drugs. The trafficking of more than 500 grams of cannabis can carry the death penalty in Singapore.
