Fadley Faisal
Illicit drug activities have been dealt a blow following a December operation dubbed ‘Ice Sibling’, which resulted in the arrest of 23 individuals (20 males and three females) between the ages of 14 and 62.
The simultaneous series of raids involving 145 Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officers targetted areas across STKRJ Kampong Rimba, Mentiri, Kiulap, Jangsak and Jerudong in the Brunei Muara-District, as well as areas in Temburong District.
Officers believe the arrested individuals are part of a syndicate pioneered by a pair of siblings.
The siblings, headquartered in the Brunei-Muara District, work around their family network, whose reach extended to the Belait District, the NCB said.
Their modus operandi was said to be operating from rented houses serving as storage and illicit drug activity hubs.
Investigations indicate the syndicated family members operated on minute scales. They were, however, able to widen their network after collaborating with other syndicates, which had been hunted down by the agency earlier.
A total of 33 grammes of syabu packed in plastic as well as utensils were seized during the raids.
The NCB also confiscated what was believed to be proceeds from drugs trafficking in the form of eight vehicles, jewellery, electrical appliances and slightly under BND26,000 in cash.
