Fadley Faisal
Forty-five locals were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) over a month-long operation in the Tutong District for suspected involvement in a drug trafficking syndicate, the agency said in a statement on Monday.
The agency said that the arrests occurred at several locations in the district during Operation White Sand, which took place between April 10 and May 10.
The agency said they believe the syndicate’s drug trafficking operations were orchestrated by one family. Detained suspects comprised 33 men and 12 women aged between 22 to 67 years and are believed to be drugs dealers for the Tutong District.
The agency also seized 40.99 grammes of methylamphetamine crystals (syabu), BND19,506 and SGD27 as well as MYR1,842 in cash believed to be criminal proceeds.
The agency said initial investigations show that the syndicate surfaced in the Tutong District after the main drug suppliers in the district were arrested during previous operations.
The agency said that the syndicate’s network is the main source of drug trafficking in the Tutong District and had also reached the Belait District.
The syndicate also made use of family members and close acquaintances as third parties to carry out drug trafficking and money laundering activities, which the agency believed to be a tactic used to avoid arrest.
