Forging stronger relationships to tackle the world drug problem: Workshop on Singapore's Drug Control

        The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) organised a Workshop on Singapore's Drug Control for our international partners in Singapore from 25 to 28 October 2022, under the auspices of the Singapore Cooperation Programme¹. The workshop brought together senior officials from law enforcement and drug control regulatory agencies of 17 countries from all over the world. This is part of CNB’s ongoing efforts to contribute to capability building of our international drug enforcement counterparts in combatting the transnational and international issue of drug trafficking and drug abuse, and to promote international cooperation in combatting the world drug problem by providing a platform for officials to exchange best practices.

Photo 1 (CNB): Group photo of the participants for CNB’s Workshop on Singapore’s Drug Control, which took place from 25 to 28 October 2022. A total of 25 participants from 17 countries took part in the Workshop.

2.    During the four-day workshop, CNB shared with participants Singapore’s comprehensive harm prevention strategy encompassing upstream preventive drug education, tough laws and rigorous enforcements, as well as effective rehabilitation and aftercare programmes. To provide a holistic view of Singapore’s drug control approach, CNB partnered various agencies, including the Home Team Academy, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Singapore Prison Service, Yellow Ribbon Singapore, Health Sciences Authority and Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, to host the participants for site visits.

3.        At the opening ceremony of the Workshop on 25 October, Mr Sam Tee, Director (Designate) of CNB, shared that while drug challenges faced by every country are diverse and unique, it is important for law enforcement agencies to learn from each other, so as to achieve synergy in tackling the world drug problem.

Photo 2 (CNB): Sharing on Singapore’s preventive drug education outreach and engagement efforts by the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) on 25 October 2022.

Photo 3 (CNB): Mr Sam Tee (left), Director (Designate) of CNB, and Mr Fredy Anzueto Villatoro (right), Secretary SECCATID of Guatemala, speaking on some of the drug control practices from both countries.

Photo 4 (CNB): Guided tour at the Home Team Academy’s Home Team Gallery 2.0 on 27 October 2022 to learn about how the various agencies in the Home Team works together, in close partnership with the community, to keep Singapore safe and secure.

Photo 5 (MHA): Site visit to the Health Sciences Authority on 26 October 2022, where participants were shown how specimens were screened for the detection of controlled drugs.

Photo 6 (CNB): Mrs Josephine Teo (second from right), Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs, had hosted a dinner for the participants of CNB’s Workshop on Singapore’s Drug Control on 27 October 2022.

4.         Dr. Peter Patrick, Commissioner for Treatment and Rehabilitation of Tanzania’s Drug Control and Enforcement Authority and one of the participants for the Workshop, shared that the Workshop had provided a useful platform for the various countries to come together to share and discuss each of their experiences on drug control approaches.

5.         This inaugural workshop is a commitment by Singapore to expand capacity building and technical assistance to other countries. Singapore aims to further contribute to international drug policy discourse and will be seeking membership of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) for the term 2024 to 2027².

CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU

28 October 2022

¹Please see Annex A for more information about the Singapore Cooperation Programme which is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

²The CND is the United Nation’s main drug policymaking body, and is an important platform to foster international dialogue on the issue. The CND reviews the global drug situation annually, develops strategies on international drug control, and recommends measures for governments to address the world drug problem. Singapore is part of the Asia and Pacific Group (APG) at the UN and there are seven APG seats available for the term 2024 – 2027.

Annex A

Singapore Cooperation Programme

Singapore has provided technical assistance to other developing countries since the 1960s. As a country whose only resource is its people, Singapore believes that human resource development is vital for economic and social progress. Singapore itself has benefited from training provided by other countries and international organisations. 

In 1992, the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) was established to bring together under one framework the various technical assistance programmes offered by Singapore. Through the SCP, the range and number of training programmes were increased to share Singapore’s development experience with other developing countries.

To date, close to 150,000 officials from more than 180 countries, territories and intergovernmental organisations have participated in our programmes and study visits. The SCP is managed by the Technical Cooperation Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore.

For more details on the SCP, please visit www.scp.gov.sg.