Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Number of Persons Under the Age of 18 Who Have Been Investigated, Arrested and Charged for Drug Trafficking Offences on an Annual Basis in the Past Five Years

Question:

Dr Tan Wu Meng: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs in the past five years (a) how many persons under the age of 18 have been (i) investigated (ii) arrested and (iii) charged for offences in relation to drug trafficking respectively on annual basis; (b) of these, what proportion are under (i) 14 years of age and (ii) 16 years of age respectively; and (c) what measures are being taken to protect very young Singaporeans from exposure to drug culture and being recruited into drug-related crime.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1.   Between 2017 and 2021, about 19 persons under the age of 18 were arrested and investigated for drug trafficking every year. Of these, about 27% were under 16 years old, and about 2% were under 14 years old.

2.   Between 2017 and 2021, about four persons under the age of 18 were charged and found guilty of drug trafficking every year. Of these, about 21% were under 16 years old, and none were under 14 years old.

3.   The Government has taken several measures to try to protect the young from being recruited into drug-related crime, or exposed to a drug culture.

4.   We strengthened our laws in this regard. In 2013, we increased the punishment for adult traffickers who traffic a Class A controlled drug to a person below the age of 21. We also introduced a new offence for an adult who causes or procures any young person or vulnerable person to traffic or import drugs. In 2019, we made it an offence for an adult to permit, or not take reasonable steps to prevent, a young person below 16 years of age from consuming illicit drugs in the adult’s possession.

5.   Second, the Central Narcotics Bureau, or CNB, works with its partners to educate the young on the harms of drugs. CNB engages students from primary and secondary schools and Institutes of Higher Learning through a range of activities, such as talks and sharing sessions, pre-overseas exchange briefings, and skits. CNB also provides informational resources to persons in positions of influence over young persons, such as parents, counsellors, National Service commanders and educators, with tips on how to spot possible drug abuse, and where to seek help for their children or wards.