The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) arrested a total of 3,343 drug abusers in 2015, an increase of 6% from the 3,158 drug abusers arrested in 2014. The number of repeat abusers fell about 2%, from 2,065 abusers in 2014 to 2,034 abusers in 2015. 1,309 new drug abusers were arrested, which represented a 20% increase from the 1,093 arrested in 2014. Of these, more than two-thirds (69%) were below 30 years of age.
Methamphetamine (or ‘Ice’) and heroin continue to be the two most commonly abused drugs. About 93% of all drug abusers arrested had abused one or the other. Notably, methamphetamine displaced heroin to become the most abused drug. For new abusers, methamphetamine (77%) and cannabis (12%) were the most commonly abused drugs, with cannabis displacing heroin as the second most commonly abused drug among new abusers.
CNB carried out sustained and intensive enforcement efforts to prevent drugs from entering Singapore. In 2015, CNB conducted 49 major operations, of which 18 were island-wide operations involving the Singapore Police Force (SPF). These operations targeted middle-level traffickers, street-level pushers and drug abusers. Together with SPF and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), CNB also conducted 2,047 operations at the checkpoints to intercept drugs entering Singapore. These enforcement efforts crippled the operations of 21 drug syndicates.
The estimated street value of the drugs seized in 2015 was S$8.56 million, which was 5% higher than in 2014. Cannabis seizures increased by about 26%, from 35.03 kg in 2014 to 44.29 kg in 2015.
2015 was a milestone year for CNB’s preventive drug education efforts and outreach, as we commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign. CNB will continue to review and update our preventive drug education and outreach efforts to spread the anti-drug message and garner strong support for our zero-tolerance approach towards drugs and drug abuse in Singapore.
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