US embassy cable - 05SINGAPORE3469

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SINGAPORE 003469 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL 
JUSTICE FOR OIA AND AFMLS 
TREASURY FOR FINCEN 
DEA FOR OILS AND OFFICE OF DIVERSION CONTROL 
CIA FOR CNC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM, SNAR, SN 
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE 2005 INCSR REPORT PART I -- DRUG AND 
CHEMICAL CONTROL 
 
REF: STATE 
 
1.  Paragraph 2 contains Embassy Singapore's submission for 
the 2005-2006 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 
Part I - Drug and Chemical Control.  Part II will be 
submitted septel. 
 
2.  Begin Text: 
 
I. Summary 
 
The Government of Singapore (GOS) effectively enforces its 
stringent counter narcotics policies through strict laws 
(including the death penalty), vigorous law enforcement, and 
active prevention programs.  Singapore is not a producer of 
precursor chemicals or narcotics, but as a major regional 
financial and transportation center it is an attractive 
target for money launderers and drug transshipment. 
Corruption cases involving Singapore's counter narcotics and 
law enforcement agencies are rare, and their officers 
regularly attend U.S.-sponsored training programs (as well as 
regional forums on drug control). 
 
Singapore is experiencing a decrease in narcotics trafficking 
and abuse.  According to GOS statistics, the number of drug 
abusers arrested decreased by 47 percent, from 1,809 in 2003 
to 955 in 2004 - the lowest number recorded in 20 years. 
Similarly, the number of new abusers arrested also decreased, 
by 17 percent (to 604 new users) compared to 2003.  Synthetic 
drug abusers displaced heroin abusers as the largest group of 
abusers in 2004, making up 56 percent of those arrested. 
Singapore is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. 
 
II. Status of Country 
 
In 2005, there was no known production of illicit narcotics 
or precursor chemicals in Singapore.  While Singapore itself 
is not a known transit point for drugs or precursor 
chemicals, it is the busiest transshipment port in the world, 
and the volume of cargo passing through its port makes it 
likely that some illicit shipments of drugs and chemicals do 
pass through Singapore. 
 
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2005 
 
Policy Initiatives.  Singapore has continued to pursue a 
strategy of demand and supply reduction for drugs.  This plan 
has meant that, in addition to arresting drug traffickers, 
Singapore has also focused on arresting and detaining drug 
abusers for treatment and rehabilitation.  Singaporeans and 
permanent residents are subject to random drug tests.  In 
addition, the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) gives the Central 
Narcotics Bureau (CNB) the authority to commit all drug 
abusers to drug rehabilitation centers for mandatory 
treatment and rehabilitation. 
 
Law Enforcement Efforts.  According to the most recent 
statistics available, arrests for drug-related offenses 
registered a sharp decline of 47 percent from 1,809 in 2003 
to 955 in 2004.  The number of persons detained for 
trafficking offenses and arrests for abuse and possession all 
declined.  Arrests of heroin abusers fell by 80 percent, from 
567 arrests in 2003 to 111 in 2004.  The predominance of 
synthetic drugs is reflected in the composition of abusers 
arrested in 2004.  Synthetic drugs include MDMA (Ecstasy), 
methamphetamine and ketamine; together they accounted for 56 
percent of abusers arrested.  Singapore government statistics 
for 2004 show the composition of abusers by drug type is as 
follows: 32 percent ketamine; 20 percent nimetazepam; 13.1 
percent methamphetamine; 12.3 percent marijuana; 11.6 percent 
heroine; 10.6 percent MDMA; and 0.4 percent cocaine. 
 
In 2004, authorities executed 48 major operations during 
which they dismantled 24 drug syndicates.  In September 2005, 
CNB made the largest ketamine seizure in Singapore history, 
yielding 3.24 kilograms.  CNB seized 16,235 methamphetamine 
tablets ("Ya ba") in 2004, compared to 34,853 tablets seized 
in 2003.  CNB seized 156,922 nimetazepam tablets in 2004, the 
largest amount seized since 1992 when nimetazepam became a 
controlled drug. 
 
Corruption.  The CNB is charged with the enforcement of 
Singapore's counter narcotics laws.  The CNB and other 
elements of the government are effective and Singapore is 
widely recognized as one of the least corrupt countries in 
the world.  Neither the government nor any senior government 
officials engage in, encourage or facilitate the production 
or distribution of narcotics or other controlled substances, 
or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions. 
 
Agreements and Treaties.  Singapore is a party to the 1988 UN 
Drug convention, the 1961 UN Single convention on Narcotic 
Drugs, the 1972 Protocol amending the Single Convention, and 
the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances.  Singapore 
and the United States continue to cooperate in extradition 
matters under the 1931 U.S.-U.K. extradition treaty.  On 
November 3, 2000, Singapore and the United States signed a 
Drug Designation Agreement (DDA), strengthening existing 
cooperation between the two countries on drug cases.  In the 
past, the lack of such a bilateral agreement had been an 
occasional handicap.  The agreement provides for cooperation 
in asset forfeiture and sharing of proceeds in narcotics 
cases; in 2002, one joint case resulted in a $1.9 million 
seizure of assets in Singaporean bank accounts.  The DDA has 
also facilitated the exchange of banking and corporate 
information on drug money laundering suspects and targets. 
This includes access to bank records, testimony of witnesses, 
and service of process.  The DDA is the first such agreement 
Singapore has undertaken with another government.  Singapore 
has signed mutual legal assistance agreements with Hong Kong 
and ASEAN; the United States and Singapore have held 
discussions on a possible bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance 
Treaty (MLAT).  Singapore signed the UN Convention against 
Transnational Organized Crime in December 2000. 
 
Cultivation/Production.  There was no known cultivation or 
production of narcotics in Singapore in 2004 or 2005. 
 
Drug Flow/Transit.  Singapore has the busiest (in tonnage) 
seaport in the world.  Approximately 80 to 90 percent of the 
goods handled by its port are in transit or being 
transshipped, and do not enter Singapore's customs area.  Due 
to the extraordinary volume of cargo shipped through the 
port, it is likely that some of that cargo contains illicit 
materials.  Singapore does not require shipping lines to 
submit data on the contents of most transshipment or transit 
cargo unless there is a Singapore consignee to the 
transaction.  The lack of such information makes enforcement 
a challenge -- customs authorities rely on intelligence to 
discover and interdict illegal shipments.  Absent specific 
information about a drug shipment, GOS officials have been 
reluctant to impose tighter reporting or inspection 
requirements at the port out of concern that this would 
interfere with the free flow of goods and thus jeopardize 
Singapore's position as the region's primary transshipment 
port.  However, scrutiny of goods at ports has increased.  In 
January 2003, Singapore's new export control law went into 
effect; while the law seeks to prevent the flow of weapons of 
mass destruction-related goods, the controls introduce 
scrutiny on some transshipped cargo.  In March 2004, 
Singapore became the first Asian port to commence operations 
under the U.S. Container Security Initiative (CSI), under 
which U.S. Customs personnel prescreen U.S.-bound cargo. 
While this initiative also is aimed at preventing WMD from 
entering the United States, the increased information and 
scrutiny could also aid drug interdiction efforts. 
 
The CNB works with the DEA to closely track the import of 
modest amounts of precursor chemicals for legitimate 
procession and use in Singapore.  CNB's precursor unit 
monitors and investigates any suspected diversion of 
precursors for illicit use.  The CNB also monitors precursor 
chemicals that are transshipped through Singapore to other 
regional countries, although, as noted above, data on 
transshipment and transit cargo are limited.  Singapore 
notifies the country of final destination before exporting 
transshipped precursor chemicals. 
 
Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction).  Singapore uses a 
combination of punishment and rehabilitation against 
first-time drug offenders.  Many first-time offenders are 
given rehabilitation instead of jail time, although the 
rehabilitation regime is mandatory and rigorous.  The 
government may detain addicts for rehabilitation up to three 
years.  In an effort to discourage drug use during travel 
abroad, CNB officers may require urinalysis tests for 
Singapore citizens and permanent residents returning from 
outside the country.  Those who test positive are treated as 
if they consumed the illegal drug in Singapore. 
 
Adopting the theme "Prevention: The Best Remedy," Singapore 
authorities organize sporting events, concerts, plays, and 
other activities to reach out to all segments of society on 
drug prevention.  Drug treatment centers, halfway houses, and 
job placement programs exist to help addicts reintegrate into 
society.  At the same time, the GOS has toughened 
anti-recidivist law.  Three-time offenders face long 
mandatory sentences and caning.  Depending on the amount of 
drugs carried, convicted drug traffickers are subject to the 
death penalty, regardless of nationality. 
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs 
 
Singapore and the United States continue to enjoy good law 
enforcement cooperation.  In fiscal year 2005, approximately 
33 GOS law enforcement officials attended training courses at 
the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok 
on a variety of transnational crime topics.  The GOS has 
cooperated extensively, with the United States and other 
countries, in drug money laundering cases, including some 
sharing of recovered assets. 
 
The Road Ahead.  The United States will continue to work 
closely with Singapore authorities on all narcotics 
trafficking and related matters.  Increased customs 
cooperation under the Container Security Initiative and other 
initiatives and the prospect of a broad MLAT agreement will 
help further bolster law enforcement cooperation. 
 
 
HERBOLD