The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) held its annual Workplan Seminar on 1 June 2021. Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, delivered a keynote speech at the virtual event.
2. This year marks CNB’s 50th anniversary. In his keynote speech, Assoc Prof Faishal expressed his appreciation towards CNB officers for keeping Singapore drug-free and announced that there will be a series of events lined up to commemorate this important milestone. This will include a TV mini-series based on the lives of CNB officers, to give insight into their work and generate greater awareness of the harms of drugs to the individual, family and society.
3. Assoc Prof Faishal also announced the deployment of a portable Mobile Diary to ground officers that will further strengthen CNB’s drug enforcement efforts. The Mobile Diary will enable officers to perform tasks remotely, such as making instant electronic records of incidents and conducting screening on persons and/or vehicles of interest while on the move. The Mobile Diary will be integrated with CNB’s case management system, Integrated Drug Enforcement Administrative System II (IDEAS II), for better resource optimisation and to streamline information sharing within CNB and with other relevant parties for more effective enforcement capabilities.
4. Assoc Prof Faishal also emphasised the need to support drug abusers in their rehabilitation to help them lead a drug-free life. Since November 2019, CNB has been piloting the Community Supervision Skills (CoSS) sessions, which aim to better address supervisees’ reintegration needs through structured interviews at supervision sessions to facilitate referrals to the Industrial & Services Co-Operative Society (ISCOS). ISCOS will then channel supervisees to relevant social service agencies for assistance.
5. Amidst the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, CNB remains committed to realising the vision of a drug-free Singapore. CNB kept up a high operational tempo in 2020, making significant drug seizures and dismantling 24 drug syndicates. In his message delivered at the event, Director CNB, Mr Ng Ser Song, said that drug syndicates would continue to seek inroads into the local drug market, increase their activities and expand their influence even during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and he called upon CNB officers to remain vigilant in their fight against drugs.
6. Looking ahead, CNB will continue to adopt a comprehensive approach to drug control by intensifying preventive drug education efforts, keeping our laws relevant, strengthening enforcement and supervision, and sustaining engagement with community and international partners. These include working with youths and the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to produce targeted anti-drug messaging and promote a drug-free lifestyle among youths, as well as supporting Singapore’s candidature for the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) membership from 2024 to 2027.
Photo 1 (CNB): The Guest-of-Honour, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, giving his keynote address at the virtual CNB Workplan Seminar 2021.
Photo 2 (CNB): The Mobile Diary, a tool deployed to ground officers to digitalise the on-scene documentation of case and exhibit details.
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
1 June 2021
