More buying drugs online; number of abusers also rises

SINGAPORE — The scourge of drugs has found a fearsome accomplice in the form of the Internet: Last year, 201 people were arrested for buying drugs and drug-related paraphernalia online, jumping almost seven times from the 30 nabbed in 2015.

“It has become easy for anyone to order items on the Internet and have them delivered by post or courier. Drug syndicates and peddlers have taken advantage of the borderless nature of the Internet to conduct illegal drug activities,” the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said on Monday (Feb 13), as it released its annual statistics, which also showed a slight increase in the number of new drug abusers arrested. 

In total, 1,347 new drug abusers were caught last year — up 3 per cent from 1,309 in 2015 — among which almost two-thirds were under 30 years old. Over the same period, the number of repeat drug abusers arrested fell by 7 per cent to 1,898. 

Overall, the CNB arrested 3,245 drug abusers last year, down marginally from 3,343 in 2015.

The CNB flagged as concerns the rise in online drug peddling and number of new drug abusers arrested. It said that most of those who were found to have obtained drugs or related equipment online were between 20 and 39 years old. 

Last week, Nicholas Chee Li-Yong, an unemployed 28-year-old, was jailed for five years and eight months, and given 10 strokes of the cane for buying drugs — including cannabis — online and other drug-related offences. He disguised the drugs as everyday items and had them sent through the postal system. 

The CNB said it is watching the online drug peddling situation. Meanwhile, it will be building up its detection and enforcement capabilities against online drug-trafficking activities. It will also continue to take tough action against anyone involved in such illegal activities, said a CNB spokesperson. 

The bureau reiterated that it is illegal to buy and sell drugs and drug-related paraphernalia, be it off the streets or via the Internet. “Drugs are harmful and contain unknown substances, especially so when sellers hide behind the anonymity of the Internet,” the CNB warned. 

Beyond Singapore, CNB director Ng Ser Song noted, the regional and global drug situations were “also of concern”. For example, methamphetamine seizures in East Asia and Southeast Asia almost quadrupled between 2009 and 2014, he said. 

The CNB works closely with regional counterparts to tackle the drug menace by targeting the suppliers. Last year, the bureau carried out 11 joint operations with its foreign counterparts, including six with Malaysian authorities. An operation with the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department of the Royal Malaysian Police, for instance, nabbed a supplier believed to be involved in supplying “sizeable quantities” of drugs to Singapore. 

At home, the CNB, supported by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), conducted 19 anti-drug operations across the island last year. Together with the SPF and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, the CNB also conducted 1,920 operations at the land, air and sea checkpoints to intercept drugs entering Singapore. Major operations led by the CNB crippled the operations of 23 drug syndicates. 

The drugs seized last year were estimated to have a street value of about S$8 million. Methamphetamine, heroin and cannabis continue to be the most commonly abused drugs, where nearly all of the arrested drug abusers abused at least one of these three drugs. 

Among the total number of drug abusers arrested last year, 537 — or 17 per cent — abused more than one type of drug. Among new drug abusers, methamphetamine (79 per cent) and cannabis (13 per cent) continued to be the most commonly abused drugs.

Stressing that community support is crucial in the fight against drug abuse, the CNB also noted those in the 20 to 29 age group continued to form the largest group among new drug abusers, making up nearly half of them.

The CNB revealed that a survey conducted last year by the National Council Against Drug Abuse found that those below 30 were more open-minded towards drugs as compared to the 2013 survey. The full survey results will be released in April.

The bureau said it will continue to enhance its outreach efforts among youth by working with community organisations, parents and educators to spread the drug-free message. This includes using social media, such as via the CNB’s Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat accounts.