SINGAPORE: The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has arrested 108 drug offenders and seized over S$160,000 worth of drugs in an island-wide operation spanning over four days, from October 7 to 11.
In a statement late on Friday, CNB said the crackdown covered various areas, including Aljunied, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Boon Lay, Chai Chee, Clementi, Ghim Moh, Hougang, Jurong, Marsiling, Redhill and West Coast.
The exercise, which was supported by the police, also netted 20g of “Ice”, 610g of cannabis, 70g of ketamine, over 290 Erimin-5 tablets and some 30 “Ecstasy” tablets.
Four men are being investigated for drug trafficking, and if convicted, they may face the death penalty.
Taiwan makes big heroin bust
TAIPEI: Taiwan seized more than 220 pounds of heroin in its biggest bust of the drug in 20 years, arresting two people involved in smuggling it from Vietnam.
Agents confiscated the 270 heroin bricks smuggled in a cargo container in southern Kaohsiung city on Friday.
They had been stored in 40 bags marked as frozen taro, and were mingled with hundreds of bags of real taro, the Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.
The drugs were believed to be manufactured in Myanmar and shipped to Taiwan via Vietnam, the bureau said, adding that 530 pounds of ketamine were also found in the container.
The drugs are worth an estimated $100m.
Under Taiwan’s anti-drug laws, manufacturing, transporting and dealing heroine is punishable by death.
Singapore aims to fight poverty
SINGAPORE: A social project is underway to raise awareness about the poor in Singapore.
Called Singaporeans Against Poverty, its purpose is to highlight that amid the relative affluence in the society, there are those who struggle to support themselves and their families.
Organised by Caritas Singapore, a Catholic social action body. The project will unfold in different forms and through different channels, including an online game on poverty that is to be launched later this month.
Stories on the plight, courage and resilience of the poor in Singapore will also be told on websites, social media platforms, the radio and other media channels.
Malaysia party holds polls
KUALA LUMPUR: The outcome of the elections for the three UMNO wings in Malaysia were to be announced in stages as soon as results from the divisions came in, UMNO Election Committee deputy chairman Azmi Khalid said.
UMNO is Malaysia’s largest political party and plays a dominant role in the country’s politics.
Azmi said that committee chairman Tajol Rosli Ghazali would make the announcements from time to time until the wee hours of the morning.
When asked about the progress of the delegates’ meetings and the elections around the country, which started at 8am, he said they were running smoothly.
“Minor hiccups were promptly settled,” he said.
Azmi said divisions which did not have many delegates might conclude their elections as early as 1pm while big divisions such as those in Sabah were expected to wind up late.
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