AS 2007 came to an end, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) smashed a major drug trafficking syndicate in an operation conducted on Dec 31.

The syndicate leader and 13 other offenders were arrested. A total of 3.5kg of heroin, 89 Subutex tablets and 13g of 'Ice', with a total street value of almost S$1 million, were seized.

Cash - suspected to be drug proceeds - of approximately $22,800 was also seized.

In late Nov 2007, CNB received information on a Singaporean man operating as the leader of a syndicate distributing heroin and 'Ice' here.

He got his supply of drugs directly from an overseas syndicate using both local and foreign couriers. He's helped by a close group of associates.

On New Year's eve, CNB received information that the syndicate leader is expecting a fresh consignment of heroin.

At about 5.25pm, CNB officers deployed at the Woodlands Checkpoint trailed a taxi believed to be transporting one of the couriers coming in through the causeway.

The courier alighted at Rochor Road and took another taxi which was trailed to Blk 19 Telok Blangah Crescent. She was seen to be carrying some grocery bags.

Upon arrival, she took the lift up and met a male contact who collected the grocery bags. They then parted ways, but not before they were arrested.

CNB officers found one of the grocery bags to contain a box of washing powder, where they retrieved five bundles of heroin weighing some 2.5 kg and a small packet of 'Ice'.

A search of the man's flat uncovered another two bundles and 16 packets of heroin weighing about 1 kg as well as 89 Subutex tablets and 1 packet of 'Ice' weighing approximately 12 grams.

The courier is a 23-year-old Malaysian woman while the recipient is a 41-year-old Singaporean man. He's traced on drug and criminal records.

Both will be investigated for trafficking in a controlled drug and will face the death penalty if convicted.

Meanwhile, at around 6.30pm, another group of CNB officers arrested the syndicate leader together with six of his clients at his workplace at Jalan Besar.

A raid of his hideout at North Bridge Road led the officers to four long blade knives as well as cash - suspected to be drug proceeds - amounting to about $15,700.

The syndicate leader is a 37-year-old man and is traced on drug and criminal records.

Amongst the six clients arrested, one of them is wanted for failure to report for urine test and he had some five grams of heroin and drug proceeds of around $3,400 on him.

Concurrently, a 25-year old female courier was caught at Rochor Road, after she returned from Malaysia in a cab.

At 6.45pm, CNB officers raided one of the syndicate leader's associates' residence at Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 and arrested him. Drug proceeds of around $3,700 were seized.

The 34-year-old man, along with the syndicate leader and the second courier, will be investigated for abetment of trafficking in heroin. They face the death penalty if convicted.

Meanwhile, between 7.10 and 9.15pm, CNB officers staking out Telok Blangah Crescent nabbed three drug clients.

One of them is wanted by the Police in connection with the murder of a Singaporean at a nightspot in Fullerton in 2007. The other is wanted for traffic offences.