Cannabis abuse up 34 per cent

SINGAPORE - There were more drug seizures and drug abusers arrested in the first half of this year, said the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) on Monday.

The number arrested went up by 3 per cent, from 1,731 in the first half of 2012 to 1,790 in the same period this year.

The estimated street value of drugs seized in the first half of this year rose to about $9.4 million.

Seizures of heroin and methamphetamine (Ice) remained high. An estimated 36kg of heroin was seized and 22.5kg of Ice. Close to 80 per cent of Ice seized was not intended for the local market.

Heroin and methamphetamine were the most commonly abused drugs, with 92 per cent of those arrested being on them.

Cannabis was the third most commonly abused drug, and the number of new cannabis abusers arrested went up by 34 per cent, from 38 in the first half of 2012, to 51 in the same period this year.

CNB said it has been reaching out to youth through various platforms, in its efforts to prevent the next generation from abusing drugs.

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