Helping Young Victims in the Shadows of Addiction

GRAPHIC: Melody Ho

Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers rescued at least 10 children during drug raids at residential units in 2024. Among those involved in these operations were Station Inspector (SI) Nasrin and Inspector (Insp) Casey (not their real names, due to the covert nature of their work).

Once, while arresting a woman who was abusing drugs, SI Nasrin saw the woman’s three-year-old son in the house. He wanted to make milk for the boy but learnt from the mother that she had used up her money on drugs and had no money left to buy milk powder. Thankfully, a relative subsequently arrived with milk powder for the boy.  

Insp Casey recalls a separate incident where a woman was found asleep in a hotel room after taking drugs. The woman’s three-year-old son had not eaten for hours and was screaming and banging on the door from the inside. Hotel staff heard his cries and opened the door.              

SI Nasrin (left) and Insp Casey (right) lead their team members in regular enforcements against drug activities. Based on the Singapore Drug Situation Report 2024 released by CNB, 3,119 drug abusers were arrested in 2024, of which 31% of them were new drug abusers. PHOTO: Toh Rui Hao

When someone chooses to abuse drugs, it’s often their family—especially the children—who suffer the most. These are the scenes that CNB officers witness in the course of their work. Innocent young children suffer disproportionately when their parents and guardians become drug abusers. These children become the real victims of drug abuse.

To create awareness of how family and society are harmed by drugs, we observe Drug Victims Remembrance Day annually on the third Friday of May.

Home Team News asked SI Nasrin and Insp Casey about their experiences and thoughts on such raids. 

1. What are your roles and responsibilities in anti-drug operations?
   Insp Casey and SI Nasrin: We ensure good coordination within our team and operational safety. We also oversee proper handling of suspects.

2. How do you feel towards the drug abusers’ children whom you see during the raids?
   SI Nasrin: As a parent myself, I feel sad for them and disappointed that they have been neglected and put into unconducive environments by their parents.
   Insp Casey: No child deserves to be in an environment where their basic needs are not even met.

As parents themselves, seeing the negative impact that drug abuse has brought upon drug abusers’ children make SI Nasrin and Insp Casey feel sad for them. PHOTO: Melody Ho

3. When the children of drug abusers to be arrested are present during a raid, do CNB officers have special considerations or an SOP to follow?

SI Nasrin: We take care to avoid exposing the children to traumatic scenes during the arrest. There are also established procedures between MSF, CNB and the other law enforcement agencies to ensure that any vulnerable children whose parents are arrested for drug abuse receive timely assistance.

4. What messages do you share with your children about staying drug-free and how do you go about it?
   SI Nasrin: Drug abuse can severely harm one’s health, as well as families and communities. Know how to resist peer pressure to abuse drugs, which has legal consequences. I also teach them how to build their resilience and make informed decisions.
   Insp Casey: I cite real-life examples (without real names and confidential info) to let them know about the harms of drugs. I tell them about the dangers of social media where drugs may be portrayed as harmless.

5. What advice would you give to drug abusers who are parents and who have young children?
   SI Nasrin: It is in their best interest to approach CNB for help early so that appropriate actions can be taken to help them kick the drug habit. They should consider their children’s well-being and future and remember that drug abuse not only affects themselves but people around them too.
   Insp Casey: They should think of their children first. When they take drugs, they can’t even take care of themselves, what more their children?