17 Aug 2012, 5.11PM
Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) is on guard for a large group of repeat drug offenders due to be released over the next few years as they could have “contaminating influence” on the drug scene here.
Although the number of drug abusers arrested in the first half of this year fell slightly from last year, the supply of drugs available remains high in the worsening regional drug situation, highlighted by the rise in drug seizures this year.
Declines in arrests of drug abusers were seen in all groups except for those aged 40 and above, which posted an increase of about 10 percent, from 754 in the first half of last year to 826 this year. They also made up the largest number of abusers arrested at 48 percent.
Youths in particular, are having more liberal attitudes towards drug consumption and this lends to the sustained challenging drug situation.
CNB says that it would step up enforcement and work with its counterparts in the region to stem drug flow into Singapore. It is also working on implementing new measures such as tougher punishments for repeat offenders and increasing youth outreach to curb the problem.
Mr. Hari Kumar Nair, Government Parliamentary Committee chairman for Home Affairs and Law, called on family and community support for ex-offenders. “Without such help, the risk of re-offending remains high. There is also a need to maintain strong family ties, while the offender is in prison,” he said.
Read The Straits Times article “
S'pore drug scene still 'challenging'” for the full story.
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