Singapore, Feb 15 (IANS): Singapore recorded a six percent rise in the number of drug abusers arrested in 2015 compared to the previous year, with a 20 percent climb in the number of new drug abusers arrested, the Central Narcotics Bureau said on Monday.
The CNB arrested 3,338 drug abusers last year, up from 3,158 in 2014, it said. Of the 2015 figure, 1,311 were new abusers, up from 2014's 1,093, and 69 percent were below 30 years old, Channel News Asia reported.
Methamphetamine or "ice", and heroin continue to be the two most commonly abused drugs.
About 93 percent of all drug abusers arrested had abused one or the other, said CNB.
The estimated street value of the drugs seized in 2015 was 8 million Singapore dollars ($6 million), which was 5 percent higher than in 2014.
Cannabis seizures increased by about 26 percent, from 35.03 kg in 2014 to 44.29 kg in 2015, the CNB added.