1,337 e-vaporiser pods believed to contain etomidate, known as Kpods, were found inside a car in Yishun, said the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in a news release on Friday (21 Nov).
The seizure came after the car’s Singaporean owner was arrested for drug-related offences.
Source: Central Narcotics Bureau
The raid was part of an islandwide anti-drug operation over 12 days from 10 Nov to 21 Nov, CNB said.
In the morning of 13 Nov, an operation was conducted at a residential unit in the vicinity of Yishun Ring Road.
There, a 36-year-old Singaporean man was arrested for suspected drug-related offences,
During a search, cash of various currencies was seized from him: S$5,322.90, RM442.05 (S$139), BND155 (S$155), and 5 Thai baht (S$0.20), amounting to more than S$5,600.
After his arrest, CNB searched the man’s car.
The officers found vape-related products, including 1,337 suspected Kpods.
Source: Central Narcotics Bureau
304 e-vaporisers, or vapes, were also seized.
On the same day, CNB raided a residential unit in the vicinity of Jurong East Avenue upon receiving a tip-off.
Four Singaporeans were arrested for drug-related offences: a 53-year-old woman for suspected drug trafficking and three men aged 61, 65, and 67 for suspected drug abuse.
Also uncovered from the unit was:
Source: Central Narcotics Bureau
Some of the items were found in the toilet drainage.
In the afternoon of 18 Nov, another operation was conducted at a hotel in the vicinity of Bugis.
In the hotel lobby, three Singaporeans were arrested — two men aged 44 and 49 for suspected drug trafficking offences, and a 37-year-old woman for suspected drug-related offences.
They were all searched, and the following items were found on both men:
Source: Central Narcotics Bureau
In total, 140 suspected drug offenders were arrested during the anti-drug operation, which covered areas including Bedok, Bugis, Bukit Batok, Geylang, Jurong, Sembawang, and Yishun.
The items seized included:
According to estimates, the amount of drugs seized is worth more than S$892,000.
The heroin, Ice, and cannabis found could potentially feed the addiction of 2,873 abusers for a week.
All the suspects are under investigation for drug activities.
CNB noted that trafficking a controlled drug, offering to do so, or any act or offer in preparation for or for the purpose of trafficking, is an offence under Section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 (MDA).
This applies whether the offender acts on their own behalf or on behalf of someone else, even if that other person is overseas.
Offenders may face the death penalty when convicted of importing or exporting:
Since the authorities implemented stiffer penalties for Kpod offences, those convicted of Kpod trafficking face between two and 10 years in prison and between two and five strokes of the cane.
Importers may be jailed for three to 20 years and receive five to 15 strokes of the cane.
Also read: Man throws suspected Kpods down rubbish chute in Yishun during CNB raid, gets arrested
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Featured image adapted from the Central Narcotics Bureau.