SINGAPORE – More young and new abusers were arrested in Singapore in 2025 for drug-related offences, with the youngest being a 12-year-old abuser.

Figures released on Feb 10 by the Central Narcotics Bureau showed that half of the 1,165 new drug abusers arrested in 2025 were below the age of 30 years old.

Another worrying trend was the proportion of female drug abusers arrested in 2025 - one in four new abusers arrested was female.

CNB director Sebastian Tan said the youth drug problem remains a concern in an environment where transnational syndicates are exploiting digital technology platforms and payment systems to traffic drugs and launder illicit proceeds across borders.

Methamphetamine, or Ice, continued to be the most commonly abused drug in Singapore in 2025, followed by heroin and cannabis.

CNB said 72 per cent of new drug abusers arrested in 2025 had abused methamphetamine. It added that seven in 10 cannabis abusers arrested in 2025 were new abusers, up from six in 10 in 2024.

Mr Tan said: “Six in 10 new cannabis abusers arrested were below 30 years old. The proportion of female abusers arrested has increased to 19 per cent in 2025, up from 15 per cent of the total arrests in 2024.”

According to the World Drug Report 2025, drug abuse has reached an all-time high. In 2023, an estimated 316 million people, or 6 per cent of the global population aged between 15 and 64, had used drugs in the past 12 months.

It comes in the wake of reports showing that a record 236 tonnes of methamphetamine was seized in East and South-east Asia in 2024. The total seizure marked a 24 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

On the issue of drug abuse figures reaching record levels, Mr Tan said: “This represents a significant increase compared to a decade ago. Many countries are facing growing challenges in managing the spread of drug abuse and drug-fuelled crime in their communities.”

Although there are w...