SINGAPORE – A 16-year-old girl was among 112 suspected drug offenders nabbed in an islandwide anti-drug bust, said the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in a statement on Oct 28.

       The raids, conducted from Oct 14 to 25 in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Clementi, Eunos, Jurong and Tampines, saw a variety of drugs seized, with an estimated street value of about $296,000.

       On Oct 14, CNB officers raided a residential unit in Bedok South Avenue 3, arresting two Singaporeans – a 42-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man – and recovering around 1.7kg of Ice, 69g of heroin and 17g of cannabis.

       Two days later, officers raided two residential units in Eunos Crescent.

       In the first raid, they arrested a married Singaporean couple – a 37-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man. About 32g of Ice, 7g of heroin, six Erimin-5 tablets and some Ecstasy tablets were recovered from the raid.

       The couple’s children, aged 10 and 12, were in the unit during the raid and have since been placed in the care of their next-of-kin.

       In the second raid, officers used force to enter after the occupants – a 25-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman – refused entry. Both Singaporeans were arrested and heroin was recovered in the unit.

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       According to figures released by CNB on Feb 14, the number of drug abusers arrested in 2023 rose by 10 per cent to 3,101, up from 2,826 in 2022.

       Among those arrested in 2023, 944 were new drug abusers, an 18 per cent increase from 802 in 2022.

       More than half of the new abusers arrested were below the age of 30. Among them were five 14-year-olds, the youngest abusers to be arrested.

       The number of female drug abusers also rose, with 454 arrested in 2023, up from 408 in 2022. Among new abusers in 2023, 182 were female, up from 171 in 2022.

       Investigations into all arrested suspects are ongoing.