Updated: 02/07/2014 11:55 | By Channel NewsAsia
Increase in drugs seized and abusers arrested in 2013
SINGAPORE: The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) seized more drugs last year than in 2012, it said in its annual report released on Friday, which also showed an increase in the number of abusers arrested.
The estimated street value of the drugs seized in 2013 amounted to S$20.5 million, 12 per cent higher than the estimated S$18.3 million in 2012.
CNB said it seized 72.23 kg of heroin last year, about 9 per cent more than in 2012 (66.38 kg).
The quantity of 'Ice" seized in 2013 remained high, at 43.99 kg. Of the amount seized, about 80 per cent (35.21 kg) of it was not intended for the local market.
The CNB said it conducted 46 major operations, including 19 islandwide stings, crippling 20 drug syndicates.
It arrested 3,574 drug abusers last year, an increase of 2 per cent from the 3,507 nabbed in 2012, the bureau said on Friday.
In 2013, repeat abusers constituted 69 per cent (2,466) of all abusers arrested, a 2 per cent increase from 2012, where there were 2,415 arrests.
The number of new abusers arrested increased by 1 per cent, from 1,092 in 2012 to 1,108 in 2013.
New abusers made up 31 per cent of all abusers arrested. About half of new abusers arrested are 20 to 29 years old. New youth abusers below the age of 20 decreased by 6 per cent from 162 arrests in 2012 to 152 arrests last year.
Heroin and methamphetamine continue to be the two most commonly abused drugs, with about 92 per cent of all drug abusers arrested having abused either heroin or methamphetamine.
Cannabis abusers arrested increased by 29 per cent, from 142 in 2012 to 183 last year. - CNA/ac
