Use of Technologies in Drug Trafficking Activity and Agencies' Ability to Combat Its Proliferation in Digital Sphere
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Derrick Goh’s inquiry regarding the impact of social media and cryptocurrency on drug trafficking and measures to enhance the Central Narcotics Bureau’s (CNB) capabilities in the digital sphere. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam stated that CNB collaborates with technology firms to detect drug advertising and conducts targeted operations against traffickers using digital applications, such as those resulting in 34 arrests in April 2023. He highlighted that the exploitation of closed communication platforms remains a challenge without cooperation from online services. To address this, Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs will introduce the Online Criminal Harms Bill this year. This legislation will empower authorities to require online services to disable access to illegal drug-related content for Singapore persons.
Transcript
10 Mr Derrick Goh asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the Ministry’s assessment of the state as well as the impact of the use of technologies, such as social media and cryptocurrency payments, to facilitate drug activity; and (b) whether there are plans to boost the capabilities of CNB and other agencies for their continued effectiveness in combating the proliferation of drugs in the digital sphere.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) is aware of the trend of drug traffickers exploiting social media, Internet communications and cryptocurrency payment platforms to facilitate drug trafficking.
To address this, CNB actively cooperates with social network services, e-commerce businesses, Internet service providers and technology companies to detect and prevent the advertising of controlled drugs on such platforms. Drug activity facilitated by such closed communication platforms is a significant challenge and, unless the platforms cooperate, the challenges will continue to grow.
CNB continues to conduct operations against syndicates and persons who use social media to facilitate their drug trafficking activities. For example, CNB conducted a series of operations from 18 to 19 April 2023 targeted at drug transactions conducted through specific applications. A total of eight suspected drug traffickers and 26 abusers were arrested and an assortment of drugs, including 228 grammes of cannabis, was seized.
Further, the Ministry of Home Affairs will be introducing the Online Criminal Harms Bill this year to deal with online activities which constitute a crime in Singapore. For instance, the Bill will provide the levers to require online services to disable access by Singapore persons to illegal content constituting a drug-related offence.