Student, 26, arrested for buying drugs online

A 26-year-old man suspected of buying drugs online was arrested on Friday in an operation mounted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).

CNB officers were alerted to a parcel, suspected of containing about 136g of cannabis on Friday, the agency said in a statement issued yesterday.

The man, a student, had used a fake identity to order the drugs from a website, so as to evade detection by the authorities.

CNB officers uncovered his identity through further investigations.

A search of his residence subsequently revealed more drugs and drug paraphernalia. It included cannabis in vegetable, paste and powder forms as well as 11 LSD stamps.

CNB officers were alerted to a parcel suspected of containing about 136g of cannabis on Friday.

The arrest comes amid concerns raised by several MPs over the growing threat of drugs in recent years.

Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said at the ministry's budget debate on Friday that the problem of young drug abusers is compounded by the rise in online drug peddling.

A survey by the National Council Against Drug Abuse last year found that those below the age of 30 were more open-minded towards drugs, as compared with a similar survey in 2013.

Mr Shanmugam said: "Online black market sites allow users to buy drugs anonymously. The drugs are couriered in small parcels, which are unmarked, innocuous-looking and difficult to track."

The "young are especially susceptible", he said.

Home Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Amrin Amin said on Friday that there were also more cases of students abusing drugs.

Latest CNB figures showed that online drug-peddling cases soared to 201 last year, up from 30 in 2015.

CNB said that it will continue to address the trend through enforcement, education and engagement.

Investigations are ongoing.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on March 05, 2017, with the headline Student, 26, arrested for buying drugs online. Subscribe