GANJA AND MX PILLS (Prevention of illicit use of, and number of persons)

Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap Al-Haj asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what action has been taken to prevent the spread of the illicit use of ganja and MX pills in the Republic; and (b) how many persons have been arrested for trafficking, illicit use, etc.,, of the drugs since January 1970.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Prof. Wong Lin Ken): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Police and Customs have stepped up' operations, through frequent raids, on' known haunts where persons normally congregate for ganja smoking sessions. Checks and searches have been conducted on roadside stalls suspected of engaging in the sale of ganja.

The two departments have also intensified raids and checks on drug stores, Chinese medicine shops and roadside stalls reported to be frequented by MX pill consumers.

The main sources of supply of ganja, are locations in the countries in the' region and are brought to Singapore mainly by sea. In the case of MX pills, however, they are usually brought into Singapore from across the causeway through the Woodlands Checkpoint. Both the Police and Customs have been' carrying out investigations into the' movements and activities of local syndicates involved in the trafficking of ganja and MX pills. They also search, coastal vessels suspected of carrying these drugs. Additionally, preventive sea patrols are maintained round the clock to detect smuggling of these drugs into the Republic.

A total of 1,315 raids were mounted in 1970 and resulted in the recovery of 840 pounds of ganja, 14 MX pills and 625 arrests (613 for ganja and 12 for MX pills). From 1st January to 15th October this year, 1,007 raids have been carried out, resulting in the seizure of 450 pounds of ganja, 2,280 MX pills and 420 arrests (397 for ganja and 23 for MX pills).

The Ministry of Home Affairs will soon establish a Central Narcotics Bureau to absorb the present Narcotics Branch of the Criminal Investigations Department, and the Central Narcotics Intelligence Bureau of the Customs Department pertaining to dangerous drugs. As a result, all activities for the detection and prevention of drug abuse and the traffic of drugs into the country will be co-ordinated in the Central Narcotics Bureau. The Central Narcotics Bureau also plans to build a capacity to educate the public in the dangers of drug abuse.

But the efforts of the Central Narcotics Bureau aside, I would appeal to all parents to exercise their responsibility to see to it that their children do not fall into bad company, or slavishly ape the fads and fetishes associated with hippies and those who are trapped in the so-called drug counter culture.