Ice a new threat but Ecstasy down
Straits Times. Jan 17, 1998
ICE - a synthetic crystalline substance more potent than heroin
-- is fast gaining popularity in the island state while the number of Ecstasy
abusers here fell by about a third last year. Cannabis abuse was also rising
steadily.
However, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said the Ecstasy problem was now under control.
Seventy-five Ice addicts were nabbed in Singapore last year compared with just five the year before.
CNB director Sim Poh Heng, who released the 1997 drug statistics yesterday, said that in view of the increasing Ice threat, tougher punishments would be instituted soon for such traffickers. But he declined to give details.
He said that Ice was first brought in by foreign prostitutes who introduced it to their Singapore clients.
The bureau's annual report showed that overall, the drug situation here had continued to improve. Some highlights: Addicts: The overall number detected has fallen from 5744 in 1996 to 4717, a five-year low. Also down, by about a fifth, is the number of new drug addicts -- from 1421 to 1118. Trafficking syndicates: A total of 26 trafficking gangs were smashed last year compared with 18 in 1996. Death penalty: 108 traffickers faced the death penalty last year, up from 78 in 1996. Relapse rate: Two out of three addicts return to drugs after rehabilitation. Still, last year's 67.1 per cent relapse rate was the lowest in five years.
On Ecstasy abuse, Mr Sim said the drop was due to strict enforcement and tougher sentences handed down by the courts. Last year, CNB caught 401 Ecstasy abusers, down from 661 in 1996.
"Our enforcement is still high but we are now seeing fewer Ecstasy abusers. This has lead to the overall drop in the number of addicts detained. Night clubs here have also been playing their part in clamping down on Ecstasy abuse on their premises."
Last year, CNB officers made 110 raids on entertainment outlets and arrested 468 drug abusers. Most were on Ecstasy.
Turning to heroin, still the local addicts' drug of choice, he said that 93.1 kg meant for local consumption was confiscated last year, compared with just 39.3 kg in 1996. Last year's haul had a street value of $4.6 million.
The dwindling street supply of heroin was also reflected in the declining purity of the drug, from 7 per cent in 1996 to between 3 and 4 per cent last year, an all-time low. But cannabis use was on the rise. Last year, 665 abusers were caught, four times as many as the 164 caught in 1994.
The rise was due partly to the scarcity of heroin. This had prompted some addicts to use cannabis as a substitute.
Asked about the foreigners detained, Mr Sim said that 98 were caught last year, down from 110 the year before. About two-thirds were Malaysians. Most of the foreigners were either charged in court or deported.
Responding to questions from the Straits Times on the drug situation in schools, Mr Sim said the number remained very low and the biggest worry was glue-sniffing.
But even here, arrests had more than halved from 100 in 1996 to 45 last year. Year-on-year arrests for glue-sniffing had come down sharply from 423 to 291.
"We have increased our drug prevention effort in schools and there is now a greater awareness of the dangers. Working with other agencies, the 'high-risk' children have been identified and counselled. However, we feel that parents can still play a greater role in getting across the anti-drug message to their children."