Youngest S'pore drug abuser arrested in 2025 aged 12, 50% of new drug abusers under 30: CNB

Half of the new drug abusers arrested in Singapore in 2025 were below 30 years old.

The director of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Sebastian Tan, noted in the CNB's Singapore Drug Situation Report 2025 that while the country's illicit drug situation remains stable, "youth drug problem remains a concern".

In fact, the youngest drug abuser arrested in 2025 was just 12 years old.

Drug abuse statistics

According to the annual statistics released by CNB on Feb. 10, 2026, a total of 1,165 new drug abusers were arrested last year. This is a 17 per cent increase from the 996 arrested in 2024.

Of them, 50 per cent were below the age of 30.

Despite this, Singapore's drug situation remains stable, with only a one per cent increase in drug abusers arrested, from 3,175 in 2024 to 3,208 in 2025.

The number of repeat drug abusers arrested decreased by 6 per cent, from 2,179 in 2024 to 2,043 in 2025.

CNB also made significant drug seizures in 2025, with an estimated market value of about S$21.95 million.

Methamphetamine, heroin, and cannabis were the three most commonly abused drugs in 2025; among new abusers, methamphetamine, cannabis, and "ecstasy" were the most common ones.

Demographics of drug abusers

The report also disclosed details on the demographics of drug abusers arrested in 2025.

While male drug abusers continue to form the majority of those arrested at 81 per cent, the proportion of female abusers to total abusers increased from 15 per cent in 2024 to 19 per cent in 2025.

The number of female drug abusers arrested increased by 24 per cent, from 478 in 2024 to 594 in 2025.

25 per cent of all new drug abusers arrested were female.

The proportion of drug abusers by ethnic group remained similar to that of 2024, CNB said.

In 2025, slightly more than a quarter (28 per cent) of all drug abusers arrested in 2025 were below 30 years of age.

Arrests involving drug abusers under the age of 20 rose by seven per cent, increasing from 165 in 2024 to 177 in 2025. Over the same period, the number of new drug abusers in this age group grew by 22 per cent, from 134 to 163.

Methamphetamine remained the most commonly abused drug (79 per cent) among those below 20 years old.

All cannabis abusers arrested under the age of 20 were first-time offenders.

CNB also dismantled 25 drug syndicates in 2025, including syndicates using the Telegram platform and those operating overseas.

"Drug abuse impacts lives far beyond the abuser’s," Tan said. "Families and loved ones often silently suffer the emotional, financial, and physical turmoil of drug abuse. We cannot risk drug abuse becoming normalised in our community."

Preventive drug education outreach

In 2025, CNB also stepped up its prevent drug education (PDE) efforts, working closely with government agencies, community groups, as well as DrugFreeSG advocates, to reach out to various community segments to raise awareness of the harms of drug abuse and reinforce the importance of a drug-free lifestyle.

One such initiative was the launch of the 'Uninfluenced' campaign in 2025, which aimed to strengthen community resilience against drug abuse and curb the normalisation of drug use in youth culture.

Top photo from CNB.