On 14 Feb 06 at about 2040 hours, checkpoint officers at Woodlands checkpoint found controlled drugs on two 'cuties' in a Malaysian-registered taxi with two men. The two 'cuties' were not the guys’ Valentine Day dates, but referred to two packets of 'Cutie' tissue papers used to hide the drugs.

2 The checkpoint officer had stopped and conducted a check on the taxi coming into Singapore through Woodlands checkpoint. The passenger, a 32-year-old Singaporean man, appeared very nervous as the officer checked him and the car. In the course of the search, the officer found two packets of 'Cutie' tissue papers under the carpet at the rear passenger seat. The following items were found in the two tissue packets:

(i) two slabs containing 19 tablets suspected to be Erimin 5
(ii) two packets containing white crystalline powder suspected to be 'Ice' weighing a total 2.4 grams
(iii) one packet containing 10 tablets suspected to be 'Ecstasy'

The Singaporean passenger admitted that the drugs belonged to him. He and the car was put through further checks but nothing incriminating was found.

3 The case was referred to CNB for investigation for the offence of importation of a controlled drug. If convicted, he will face a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment and five strokes of the cane.

4 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, drug traffickers can also expect to face a heightened gauntlet of security checks and measures at our entry and exit points