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    Offenders with large amounts of controlled drugs will face up to 30 years’ jail

    SINGAPORE (CNA) – Offenders caught with large quantities of certain Class A controlled drugs, such as cannabis and methamphetamine, will face stiffer penalties – including caning – from yesterday, said Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

    The previous maximum punishment for possession of any controlled drug, regardless of weight, was 10 years’ jail, a fine of up to SGD20,000, or both.

    Now, offenders can be caned depending on the amount of drugs they possess. Mandatory minimum sentences for certain weight thresholds have also been set, while the maximum punishment will now be 30 years’ jail and 15 strokes of the cane.

    Amendments to Singapore’s main drugs legislation, the Misuse of Drugs Act, were passed in Parliament in March.

    The eight controlled drugs that this will apply to are cannabis, cannabis mixture, cannabis resin, cocaine, diamorphine (pure heroin), methamphetamine, morphine and opium.

    For example, those who possess less than 10 grammes (g) of diamorphine can be jailed for up to 10 years or fined up to SGD20,000, or both. There is no statutory minimum.

    Cannabis and drug paraphernalia were recovered by CNB. PHOTO: CNB

    Those convicted of possessing at least 10g but less than 15g of diamorphine will face a minimum of 10 years’ jail and five strokes of the cane. The maximum sentence is double that.

    Those who possess over 15g will receive at least 20 years’ jail and 10 strokes of the cane. The maximum sentence is 30 years’ jail and 15 strokes of the cane.

    MHA previously said the old sentencing framework for drug possession did not sufficiently account for the potential harm that could be caused by those who possess large quantities of drugs.

    These eight drugs were selected because they “cause the most serious harms”, it added.

    MHA also said in recent years, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has observed that syndicates are willing to deal in larger quantities of controlled drugs in each transaction – a shift that may correlate with abusers purchasing larger quantities of drugs in a single transaction, instead of multiple smaller quantity purchases.

    In February, CNB revealed in its annual statistics report that the number of cannabis abusers aged below 20 who were arrested increased from eight in 2021 to 26 in 2022.

    CNB director Sam Tee told reporters in an interview last year that the drug enforcement agency has plans to step up engagement with parents.

    Methamphetamine remained the most abused drug in Singapore last year, with the 1,445 abusers arrested making up 51 per cent of the total number.

    Other amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act which took effect yesterday include the director of CNB being able to recall any former drug abuser to report for a urine test throughout the person’s life, to ensure they are no longer drug addicts.

    The CNB director will now also have powers to recall Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel convicted of drug consumption under the SAF Act and get them to take a urine test.

    CNB officers can also now make seizures based on reasonable suspicion, aligning these powers with those provided for under the Criminal Procedure Code.

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