Over 28 years' jail for man who used drone to traffic drugs

When the Covid-19 lockdown made it more difficult to obtain narcotics in Singapore, one man came up with a plan that used a drone to transport pouches of controlled drugs, including methamphetamine, into Singapore from Malaysia.

- Andrew Wong Correspondent

On Oct 16, Helmie Shahrezza Shahrom was sentenced to 28 years and three months’ jail, with 18 strokes of the cane.

Three other men involved in the case had been dealt with earlier and handed jail sentences ranging from 12 to 14 years.

Mohamad Shahrezza Mohamad Zuhri piloted the drone, Mohamad Hasri Ab Rahim acted as lookout, and Mohammad Nazri Jumat attached the pouches of drugs to the drone in Malaysia.

Hasri and Nazri were each also handed 10 strokes of the cane.

Helmie, a 34-year-old Singaporean, was the only one to claim trial to his charges as he denied knowing the drone would be carrying drugs on the day he was caught.

After a trial on Sept 4, he was found guilty of importation of drugs into Singapore, as well as consuming a controlled drug in and outside of Singapore.