SINGAPORE, Oct. 17 -- A Singaporean man who masterminded a plan to smuggle methamphetamine from Malaysia using a drone during the Covid-19 lockdown has been sentenced to 28 years and three months' jail and 18 strokes of the cane, The Straits Times reported.

Yesterday, 34-year-old Helmie Shahrezza Shahrom was found guilty of importing controlled drugs into Singapore and consuming methamphetamine both inside and outside the country.

District Judge Jasvender Kaur said Helmie had played a leading role in devising and directing the cross-border operation, which used a drone to transport drugs from Malaysia at a time when pandemic restrictions had disrupted drug supplies.

Helmie was convicted of importing more than 180mg of methamphetamine a...