Designer drugs to become illegal in S'pore

No more 'legal highs' for designer drug users
More than 100 such drugs now carry the same penalty as Class A ones
By Lim Yan Liang, The Straits Times, 1 May 2014

MORE than 100 designer drugs which mimic the effects of substances like cocaine have been made illegal from today. This means that using and trafficking in them will be punished with the same penalties for Class A drugs.

Known as New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), these synthetics are made by slightly modifying the molecular structure of Class A controlled drugs, including amphetamines and cannabis. The modified drugs were previously not banned in Singapore, allowing people to chase these "legal highs" without fear of being penalised.

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said yesterday that it has seen an increase in the number of NPS trafficking and abuse cases in the past year in Singapore - reflecting the global trend.

Nearly 90 countries reported the emergence of such substances last year, compared to 70 in 2012. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said its member countries also reported over 350 NPS by August last year, more than double the 166 in 2009. This figure eclipses the number of drugs that are banned by the United Nations.

"With the abuse and trafficking of NPS on the rise, listing these new substances as Class A controlled drugs signals our unequivocal stance that these are illegal and no different from other controlled drugs," said CNB director Ng Ser Song.

Class A drugs are considered the most harmful and addictive drugs, and attract the most severe punishments and fines. Those convicted of abusing Class A drugs can be jailed up to 10 years, fined up to $20,000, or both. Those found guilty of trafficking such substances will face a minimum of five years' jail and five strokes of the cane.

Singapore beefed up its laws last May with a new category of drugs called the Fifth Schedule. When drugs are put into this schedule, CNB officers gain the power to seize them. After a review of the harmful effects of these Fifth Schedule drugs, they may be classified as Class A and pushed into the First schedule.

This three-step process has been adopted by other countries such as the United Kingdom and Japan.

The more than 100 drugs on the Class A list today were found to have no known medical and industrial uses, after CNB's consultations with the Health Sciences Authority, research institutes and industry stakeholders.

An example of an NPS which is now a Class A drug in Singapore is Benzofury. This is the street name of a drug that was marketed as a legal form of Ecstasy. A 27-year-old trainee psychologist in the United Kingdom died last July after consuming the stimulant, which experts say can cause hallucinations, paranoia and high blood pressure.

Also listed in the Fifth Schedule today are 13 new substances, including a number of synthetic canna-binoids and phenethylamines.