Almost two-thirds Singapore new drug abusers below 30

Singapore’s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) reported yesterday that almost two-thirds of new drug abusers, arrested in 2017, were under the age of 30.

The number of arrests for drug abuse last year totalled 3,089, a decrease from 3,265 arrests in 2016. But, about 40% of those arrested last year were new drug abusers, and of those 1,249 arrested, approximately 64% were less than 30 years old.

While there was an improvement in the incidence of drug abuse in Singapore last year, the largest group of drug abusers continued to be in the range of 20 to 29 years old.

Arrests of repeat drug abusers dropped last year to 1,830, a decrease of 4% from the 1,917 arrests reported in 2016. Arrests of new drug abusers also decreased by 4% last year, from the 1,348 that occurred in 2016.

The estimated street value of drugs confiscated in 2017 is thought to be about SGD $6.54m (£3.54m), a decrease from approximately SGD $8m (£4.33m) in 2016.

The most commonly abused drugs continue to be marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine. About 98% of drug abusers arrested last year had used at least one of these drugs. New drug abusers most commonly used marijuana and methamphetamine.

In 2017, the CNB collaborated with the Singapore Police Force in conducting 19 enforcement operations nationwide to target drug abusers and traffickers. The CNB also joined forces with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to conduct 1,661 activities at sea, land, and air checkpoints, to interdict drug shipments. The CNB also curtailed the operations of 23 drug syndicates in 2017.