Twenty-six individuals comprising 23 men and three women aged between 22 and 49 have been arrested following Operasi Pirates launched last July.
Two suspects who surrendered to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for their involvement with the syabu drug trafficking syndicate were among those arrested.
A series of operations were carried out in August in several locations in the Belait District: Panaga, Seria and Kampong Sungai Liang; Kampong Sungai Besar, Kampong Bukit Beruang in the Tutong District; and Kampong Lambak Kanan in the Brunei-Muara District.
The agency confiscated 16.4 grammes of syabu-type drugs, cash amounting to BND38,284.01, SGD215, GBP90, USD106 and MYR1, jewellery, CCTV, digital scales and equipment for smoking drugs.
The individuals arrested are members of a syndicate acting as small-time drug sellers – drug pushers or drug runners – as well as customers to the main suspects of the syndicate arrested at the end of last July.
In one case arrested in Kampong Lambak Kanan, NCB found that an individual who was arrested was involved in money laundering activities. The individual is believed to have been used by one of the main suspects of Operasi Pirates to store illegal money – proceeds from criminal activities of drug trafficking and contraband.
Of the 26 people arrested, eight were suspected to have an active role in the distribution syndicate. They are being investigated under the Misuse of Drugs Act, Chapter 27 and the Proceeds of Crime Recovery Order 2012.
NCB thanked the security intelligence and enforcement agencies for the assistance and cooperation towards the success of the operation.