Persons Under Age 18 Involved in Drug Trafficking and Measures to Protect Youths

Debated in Parliament on 28 Nov 2022.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Between 2017 and 2021, approximately 19 youths under 18 were arrested and investigated annually for drug trafficking, with 27% under 16 and 2% under 14, while about four were charged yearly, 21% of whom were under 16 and none under 14.
The government has strengthened laws to protect youths, including increasing penalties for adult traffickers who supply drugs to those under 21 and creating new offences for adults who cause young people to traffic drugs or permit underage drug consumption.
The Central Narcotics Bureau collaborates with partners to educate youths on drug harms through school activities, pre-exchange briefings, skits, and resources for parents, counsellors, and educators to spot and address drug abuse.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Tan Wu Meng

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked 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.

K Shanmugam

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.

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 and none was under 14.

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.

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.

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.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Between 2017 and 2021, approximately 19 youths under 18 were arrested and investigated annually for drug trafficking, with 27% under 16 and 2% under 14, while about four were charged yearly, 21% of whom were under 16 and none under 14.
The government has strengthened laws to protect youths, including increasing penalties for adult traffickers who supply drugs to those under 21 and creating new offences for adults who cause young people to traffic drugs or permit underage drug consumption.
The Central Narcotics Bureau collaborates with partners to educate youths on drug harms through school activities, pre-exchange briefings, skits, and resources for parents, counsellors, and educators to spot and address drug abuse.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Persons Under Age 18 Involved in Drug Trafficking and Measures to Protect Youths | PAPERCUTS

Persons Under Age 18 Involved in Drug Trafficking and Measures to Protect Youths

Debated in Parliament on 28 Nov 2022.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Between 2017 and 2021, approximately 19 youths under 18 were arrested and investigated annually for drug trafficking, with 27% under 16 and 2% under 14, while about four were charged yearly, 21% of whom were under 16 and none under 14.
The government has strengthened laws to protect youths, including increasing penalties for adult traffickers who supply drugs to those under 21 and creating new offences for adults who cause young people to traffic drugs or permit underage drug consumption.
The Central Narcotics Bureau collaborates with partners to educate youths on drug harms through school activities, pre-exchange briefings, skits, and resources for parents, counsellors, and educators to spot and address drug abuse.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Tan Wu Meng

K Shanmugam

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.

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 and none was under 14.

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.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Between 2017 and 2021, approximately 19 youths under 18 were arrested and investigated annually for drug trafficking, with 27% under 16 and 2% under 14, while about four were charged yearly, 21% of whom were under 16 and none under 14.
The government has strengthened laws to protect youths, including increasing penalties for adult traffickers who supply drugs to those under 21 and creating new offences for adults who cause young people to traffic drugs or permit underage drug consumption.
The Central Narcotics Bureau collaborates with partners to educate youths on drug harms through school activities, pre-exchange briefings, skits, and resources for parents, counsellors, and educators to spot and address drug abuse.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Persons Under Age 18 Involved in Drug Trafficking and Measures to Protect Youths

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Questions Identified

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Tan Wu Meng

K Shanmugam

Summary

Questions Identified

Persons Under Age 18 Involved in Drug Trafficking and Measures to Protect Youths

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Tan Wu Meng

K Shanmugam

Summary

Questions Identified