9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD) – Singapore Country Statement by Ms Sim Ann, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs

Honourable Chair, His Excellency Secretary Oscar Valenzuela,

Distinguished Delegates,

Esteemed ASEAN Partners,

1. A very good morning.

2. First, let me congratulate His Excellency Secretary Oscar Valenzuela on his appointment as Chair of the 9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters, or AMMD.

3. I would also like to thank the Government of the Philippines for graciously hosting this meeting.

4. The AMMD is an important platform for advancing our collective efforts to combat illicit drugs and realise our vision for a Drug-Free ASEAN.

Key Outcomes Achieved

5. This meeting builds on the momentum generated at the annual ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Drug Matters, or ASOD, which Singapore had the honour of chairing during its 46th session in 2025.

6. Together with our fellow ASEAN partners, we achieved three key outcomes:

7. First, the ASEAN Joint Statement was endorsed at the 46th ASOD.

8. It was delivered by His Excellency Secretary Valenzuela at the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs or CND in March, reaffirming our shared vision of a Drug-Free ASEAN.

9. Second, we developed and adopted a set of drug prevalence survey guidelines for ASEAN Member States.

10. These guidelines will improve the consistency and quality of drug prevalence surveys across ASEAN, supporting evidence-based policymaking and strengthening our preventive efforts.

11. Third, Singapore proposed the establishment of an ASEAN Drug Victims Remembrance Day, which we first observed on 26 of June this year.

12. It is a solemn reminder of the human toll of illicit drugs, and a rallying point for continued solidarity.

13. These three milestones show what we can achieve when we act together, and bring us one step closer to our collective goal of a Drug-Free ASEAN.

Worsening Global and Regional Drug Problem

14. Nonetheless, the fight against drugs must continue as challenges emerge every day.

15. Globally, the number of drug abusers rose to 331 million in 2024, a 34% increase over the past decade.

16. The 2026 World Drug Report warns that drug use and dependence may heighten the risk of violence and victimisation, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities.

17. East and Southeast Asia remain fertile ground for large-scale production and trafficking of synthetic drugs.

18. Just last year, a record 349 tonnes of methamphetamine were seized across the region, over five times the amount seized in 2015.

19. Transnational trafficking of cannabis is also a major concern for most countries in Southeast Asia. We must contend with the increasing sophistication of drug trafficking syndicates operating in our region.

20. These trends are deeply worrying. Against this global backdrop, illicit drugs threaten our collective safety and security.

21. We must therefore intensify our response to dismantle the drug producers and traffickers who profit from the misery of our people.

22. However, we cannot do this alone.

Call to Action

23. Looking ahead, allow me to highlight four areas critical to addressing these challenges:

24. First, we must strengthen our operational cooperation to collectively disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking syndicates that threaten all our countries.

25. In 2025, Singapore and Brunei joined forces with law enforcement agencies from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand to disrupt a transnational methamphetamine trafficking network spanning multiple continents.

26. The operation resulted in the collective seizure of almost 110 kilograms of methamphetamine.

27. As drug trafficking syndicates become ever more transnational, such strong multilateral cooperation is essential.

28. Second, beyond bilateral and multilateral operations, we must also ensure that ASEAN's voice is heard and represented at key multilateral platforms such as the CND.

29. In line with our commitment to the CND, Singapore will seek re-election for a second term, from 2028 to 2031.

30. We will continue to champion a constructive, collaborative, and catalytic response to illicit drugs.

31. Singapore welcomes the support of all ASEAN Member States for our candidature.

32. We also acknowledge Thailand’s candidature to the CND and wish Thailand success in its bid.

33. Third, we warmly welcome the updates to the ASEAN Work Plan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs.

34. Singapore commends the Philippines for its work in reviewing the outcomes of the previous Work Plan. We look forward to the next steps being tabled.

35. Fourth, it is important that ASEAN remains united in our commitment to a Drug-Free ASEAN and in rejecting permissive drug policies such as the legalisation of drugs for recreational use.

36. We would like to thank fellow ASEAN Member States for their support of our Drug Victims Remembrance Day activities this year.

37. Your participation powerfully reminds us that drugs continue to affect the lives of families across our region. We look forward to supporting one another’s Remembrance Day activities in the years ahead.

Conclusion

38. In closing, I am heartened by the progress we have made as one ASEAN.

39. Let us build on this progress by standing together to address the drug problem and safeguard the well-being of our communities and people.

40. Thank you.