Singapore’s National Statement Delivered at the 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs – Speech by Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information & Second Minister for Home Affairs

1. Mr Chair,

2. Thank you and congratulations on your appointment.

Drug Trends

3. Excellencies, global and regional drug situations are worsening.

4. In East and Southeast Asia, we have seen a surge in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs, in the last decade, particularly methamphetamine. ¹

5. Manufacturing and trafficking of illicit drugs in the “golden triangle” region have increased significantly, as transnational organised crime groups expanded and dominated the drug supply markets. ²

6. We are concerned with such developments. We also reiterate our commitment to the Vision of a Drug-Free ASEAN and strongly affirm the ASEAN Joint statement to counter the world drug problem.

7. We see worrying trends in other regions too. They underscore the need for decisive, evidence-based and collective solutions.

8. The Midterm Review presents a timely opportunity to evaluate existing drug strategies, identify gaps and recalibrate our approaches, in conformity with the three international drug conventions.

Singapore’s Drug Control Approach

9. Singapore adopts a holistic harm prevention approach aimed at addressing drug demand and supply.

10. We believe in and have invested heavily in prevention over the years, and the results have been encouraging. In 2023, nine in ten persons in Singapore support Singapore’s drug free position.

11. To give our efforts a further boost, we set up an Inter-Ministry Committee (IMC) on Drug Prevention for Youths. The Committee focused on effective engagement strategies supported by parents, schools, and the community. We have appointed more than 700 DrugFree SG Champions to promote preventive drug education amongst our youths.

12. Singapore remains convinced that harm prevention is key to an effective drug control strategy. Effective prevention strategies help to stop drug abuse and its harms from becoming entrenched in our communities, which will otherwise overwhelm enforcement and rehabilitation resources.

International Cooperation

13. We also believe that addressing the world drug problem is a shared responsibility, which the international community must work together to tackle.

14. Singapore reaffirms our commitment to adhering to the three international drug conventions and acknowledges the important mandate of the CND, INCB and UNODC in tackling the world drug problem.

15. The CND, in particular, plays a crucial role as the policy-making body of the United Nations with prime responsibility for drug control and other drug-related matters, to foster international dialogue and coordinate joint action against the world drug problem.

16. As a new CND member, Singapore is committed to supporting the work of the CND through our contribution to policy discourse, capacity building and sharing of scientific expertise.

Pledge 4 Action

17. To this end, I pledge for Singapore to sponsor a chapter in the 2025 World Drug Report examining the societal impact of illicit drug use globally. This will enhance our understanding of the world drug problem and aid in our collective efforts in developing strategies to address the harms that drugs bring to our communities.

18. On a related note, Singapore and the Research Analysis Branch of the UNODC will jointly organise a high-level side event on the importance of collecting reliable and quality data, to support evidence-based policies and practices. I invite delegations to attend the event at 5pm today.

Conclusion

19. Excellencies, in conclusion, the challenges we face today are complex. Singapore believes that our efforts to deal with current, emerging, and future challenges should always be guided by evidence, and conform with our obligations under the international drug control conventions.

20. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to addressing the world drug problem, and approaches that work in one country or region may not work in another country or region. We must acknowledge and respect each country’s domestic circumstances, even as we work collectively to address common challenges.

21. Thank you very much.

[1] Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia: Latest Developments and Challenges, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 2023

[2] Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia: Latest Developments and Challenges, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 2023