Drug-related arrests at Singapore’s border checkpoints rose sharply in 2025, with authorities recording 975 arrests for offences including drug importation, possession and consumption, up 53% from 635 cases in 2024.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Central Narcotics Bureau said the increase reflected both a persistent drug threat at Singapore’s borders and stronger detection and enforcement efforts. The agencies conducted 1,417 joint operations in 2025, about 34% more than the 1,053 operations carried out the previous year.
Authorities said traffickers have continued to adapt their methods and look for new ways to avoid detection. Drugs have been discovered concealed in personal belongings, vehicle compartments and other everyday items.
In one case in July 2025, more than 25kg of cocaine was found hidden inside stuffed toys in luggage at Changi Airport Terminal 4. In another recent operation, officers at Tuas Checkpoint detected about 9kg of drugs concealed in sealed commercial biscuit packets inside a Malaysia-registered motorcycle.
The agencies said checkpoint enforcement increasingly combines intelligence, data analytics and technology. Singapore’s Integrated Targeting Centre helps identify higher-risk travellers, vehicles and cargo for enhanced checks, while officers use tools including X-ray scanners, narcotic trace detectors, saliva test kits and rapid drug identification kits.
Despite the rise in checkpoint arrests, Singapore recorded 3,208 drug abusers arrested nationwide in 2025, compared with 3,175 in 2024. Authorities said the overall drug situation in the country remained stable.
Officials also warned Singapore citizens and permanent residents that consuming controlled drugs overseas remains an offence under Singapore law, underscoring the continued enforcement of the country’s strict drug laws.
