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Condoms Provided No Protection For Subutex Smuggler
A drug trafficker’s attempt to smuggle the controlled drug, Subutex, was detected and foiled by an alert Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer.
2. The ICA officer had noticed that a male passenger was behaving suspiciously at the arrival hall of the Singapore Cruise Centre on 26 January 2007, at around 8.55pm. The officer thus decided to conduct further checks on him and his belongings. When asked if he had any dutiable or prohibited items to declare, the traveller replied that he had none. Found in his baggage were numerous empty sachets. A full body search of the man was then conducted. A total of 121 Subutex tablets, worth over S$21,000 in street value, were found packed within three condoms. Two of the condoms were hidden in his anal cavity, while another condom was hidden in his groin area. Another two tablets were also hidden in his socks.
Swift action from CNB
3. The case was referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) for investigations. In a follow-up operation, CNB officers arrested a client of the drug smuggler along Beach Road, on 27 January 2007 at about 2.30am.
4. The suspected drug smuggler is a 42-year-old Malay Singaporean who is unemployed and traced for consumption of a controlled drug. He has been charged for the offence of importation of a controlled drug. If convicted, he will face a minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and 5 strokes of the cane. His client is a 48-year-old male Malay Singaporean, who has been detained pending further investigation.
Security checks at our checkpoints
5. In view of the current global situation, enforcement agencies at all entry and exit points are working closely together to step up security inspections of all persons, goods and vehicles entering or leaving Singapore. As a result, would be drug traffickers can also expect to face a heightened gauntlet of security checks and measures at our entry and exit points.
2. The ICA officer had noticed that a male passenger was behaving suspiciously at the arrival hall of the Singapore Cruise Centre on 26 January 2007, at around 8.55pm. The officer thus decided to conduct further checks on him and his belongings. When asked if he had any dutiable or prohibited items to declare, the traveller replied that he had none. Found in his baggage were numerous empty sachets. A full body search of the man was then conducted. A total of 121 Subutex tablets, worth over S$21,000 in street value, were found packed within three condoms. Two of the condoms were hidden in his anal cavity, while another condom was hidden in his groin area. Another two tablets were also hidden in his socks.
Swift action from CNB
3. The case was referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) for investigations. In a follow-up operation, CNB officers arrested a client of the drug smuggler along Beach Road, on 27 January 2007 at about 2.30am.
4. The suspected drug smuggler is a 42-year-old Malay Singaporean who is unemployed and traced for consumption of a controlled drug. He has been charged for the offence of importation of a controlled drug. If convicted, he will face a minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and 5 strokes of the cane. His client is a 48-year-old male Malay Singaporean, who has been detained pending further investigation.
Security checks at our checkpoints
5. In view of the current global situation, enforcement agencies at all entry and exit points are working closely together to step up security inspections of all persons, goods and vehicles entering or leaving Singapore. As a result, would be drug traffickers can also expect to face a heightened gauntlet of security checks and measures at our entry and exit points.