More young people caught abusing drugs: CNB

SINGAPORE — While there was a drop in the number of drug abusers arrested last year, the trend of more young people caught trying drugs remained an area of concern, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said today (Jan 26).

A total of 3,085 drug abusers were nabbed last year,  a 14 per cent drop from 2013, the bureau said in its 2014 annual drug report.

While the number of new drug abusers arrested stood at 1,058 — a 5 per cent drop from 2013 — about two-thirds of the new drug abusers were below 30 years old.

“This means more of our young people are trying drugs,” said CNB Director Ng Ser Song.

Drugs seized last year were estimated to be worth S$8.14 million, about  60 per cent lower than that seized in 2013.

Heroin and methamphetamine (or Ice) remained the two most commonly abused drugs, with about  92 per cent of all drug abusers arrested having used either one or both.

Although cannabis came in third, the CNB noted that a total of 35kg of cannabis was seized last year — a 125 per cent increase in cannabis seizures from 2013.

About 15 per cent of those arrested were poly-drug abusers, who commonly abused both heroin and methamphetamine.

 To tackle the problem of the growing trend of younger drug abusers, the CNB last year stepped up its outreach efforts, including organising anti-drug talks and holding skits and sharing sessions at various post-secondary institutions, such as Institute of Technical Education (ITE) colleges and polytechnics.

Mr Ng stressed that more needs to be done to make Singapore a drug-free country.

“2014 saw a decrease in the number of drug abusers arrested and drugs seized. However, it is premature to think that the drug situation has improved ....

“We must remain steadfast in our zero-tolerance approach towards drugs and drug abuse,” he said.

Last year saw the CNB conducting 52 major operations, including 20 island-wide, and taking out  21 drug syndicates.

The island-wide operations targeted middle-level drug traffickers, street-level pushers and drug abusers. CNB also conducted 1,747 operations at the checkpoints with the Singapore Police Force and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

On the international front, the CNB took part in 19 joint operations to curb the activities of transnational drug syndicates. In November, a joint operation with Malaysia’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Department resulted in the arrest of three suspected drug offenders, and the seizure of drugs worth RM5.2 million (S$1.94 million) in Johor Baru.