Mr Shanmugam disclosed that more students and professionals were being caught for drug offences. For example, 70 professionals and managers were nabbed in 2016 for drug abuse, an increase from 49 in 2014 and 50 in 2015.

Those whose work involves dealing with drug offenders say the well-educated DRC inmates include such professionals as lawyers, finance executives and civil servants. Some of the former offenders told The Straits Times that they picked up the habit while studying or working overseas, and continued with it after returning home to Singapore.