Drug abuse arrests up 10% in 2023; nearly 30% of those caught aged under 30: CNB

SINGAPORE: The number of drug abusers arrested in Singapore last year increased by 10 per cent compared to 2022, with nearly 30 per cent of those arrested being under the age of 30.

Data from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) released on Wednesday (Feb 14) showed that authorities arrested 3,101 drug abusers in 2023 – a 10 per cent increase from the previous year’s 2,826. Among them, 850 – 27 per cent – were below the age of 30.

There was also an increase of 13 per cent in the number of drug abusers aged below 20 who were arrested, with arrests rising to 94 in 2023 from 83 in 2022.

Of the 3,101 arrested, 944 – 30 per cent – were new drug abusers, up 18 per cent from the 802 arrested in 2022.

More than half of the 944 – 51 per cent – were aged below 30, CNB said.

The other 2,157 arrested were repeat offenders, an increase of 7 per cent from the 2,024 arrested in 2022.

“Singapore’s drug situation remains under control, but there are worrying trends,” CNB director Sam Tee said in a statement.

“We are very concerned that drug abuse seems to be starting at a much younger age,” he added. “The youngest abusers arrested in 2023 were five 14-year-olds.”

Mr Tee said that a 2022 survey conducted by the Institute of Mental Health found that the mean age of the onset of drug abuse was 15.9, with 41.8 per cent of abusers saying they had started taking drugs before the age of 18.

“Many consumed drugs at home or their friend’s home,” he said.

There were also more female drug abusers arrested in 2023, with the number rising 11 per cent to 454 from 408 in 2022. They now make up 15 per cent of all arrested drug abusers.

Methamphetamine, heroin and cannabis were the three most commonly abused drugs in Singapore, with 94 per cent of those arrested using at least one of the three, CNB said.

Among new drug abusers, methamphetamine, cannabis and ecstasy were the most common, with 91 per cent of them abusing at least one.

More than half of those arrested – 1,606, or 52 per cent – were methamphetamine abusers. Heroin abusers made up 1,032 of the arrests, or 33 per cent.

Another 277 were cannabis abusers, making up 9 per cent of the arrests. This is the highest number in 10 years, with arrests increasing 17 per cent year-on-year.

Among those arrested, 709 were poly-drug abusers, or those who abused more than one type of drug.

CNB also dismantled 25 drug syndicates in 2023, including some that used Telegram to sell drugs to young people, arresting “many traffickers” and seizing drugs with a street value of more than S$15 million.

There was a 21 per cent increase in seizures of heroin, with the amount going from 68.2kg in 2022 to 82.9kg in 2023.

Meanwhile, seizures of both cannabis and crystalline methamphetamine – more commonly known as Ice – both fell, by 46 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

“CNB will be relentless in the fight against drugs,” said Mr Tee. “We will continue our preventive drug education programmes and our tough enforcement stance.”

However, he noted that CNB “cannot stem the tide alone”, and asked for support from the public, especially parents.

“Our youths are constantly exposed to liberal drug ideas and misinformation about the harms of drugs,” he said.

“Parents should have early conversations with their children about such, and guide them towards leading a healthy, drug-free life.”