Drug arrests, new abusers increase in first half of 2015

SINGAPORE — Narcotics cops sniffed out 27 per cent more first-time abusers in the first six months of the year, with under-30s continuing to form the bulk of these offenders, as with recent years.

Statistics released by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) for January to June this year show an 8 per cent year-on-year increase in arrests (1,684), with more than one-third of these (37 per cent) being new abusers. Among new abusers, nearly seven in 10 were aged below 30, a rate that was slightly higher than those in the same period last year.

Overall, the 20 to 29 age group also formed the largest proportion among the drug abusers the CNB arrested. There were 526 offenders aged between 20 and 29, which is 20 per cent higher than in the same period last year.

There was also a big jump (48 per cent) in the number of teen abusers caught, from 91 to 135.

Methamphetamine and heroin continue to be, by far, the two most popular drugs of choice among abusers, making up 93 per cent of abuser arrests.

The worrying trend of a misguided attitude towards cannabis, which the authorities flagged last year, also continued. Overall, the number of cannabis abusers grew by nearly one-fifth (18 per cent), from 83 to 98. Eighty of these were new abusers.

Seizures of cannabis, Ecstasy, ketamine and nimetazepam increased, while seizures of heroin and “ice” (crystalline methamphetamine) fell in the first half of the year.

Notably, cannabis seizures more than doubled, jumping 140 per cent from 8.81kg to 21.18kg.

The CNB noted that the regional drug situation remains a concern. It cited the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s World Drug Report 2015, which said that the authorities in East and South-east Asia have seen an increase in heroin seizures for three consecutive years.

The agency said it will continue to work closely with regional counterparts to disrupt syndicates’ drug trafficking and production activities. For instance, earlier this year the CNB and the Malaysian police conducted a joint operation that led to the arrest of a Singaporean drug syndicate leader.

To combat the problem of youths picking up the drug habit, the CNB said it will in the second half of this year roll out initiatives that focus on targeted prevention, upstream intervention and community engagement. The agency added that it will also step up efforts to spread anti-drug messages and engage youths, especially at the post-secondary level.