No money for milk — mum used it on drugs

At least 10 children rescued during drug raids in 2024, up from four in 2023

- Nadine Chua

As Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers arrested a woman at her home for abusing drugs, her three-year-old son stood by and watched.

Seeing this, Station Inspector Nasrin (not his real name) wanted to make milk for the boy and asked his mother where she had kept the milk powder.

She replied: "No more milk powder, can help me buy?"

SI Nasrin, who cannot be named due to the covert nature of his work, asked if she had run out of it.

The mother, who is in her 30s, said: "I've no money to buy milk powder, I used it on drugs."

A relative later dropped by with milk powder for the boy.

Checks by The Sunday Times on reported cases in 2024 showed CNB officers rescued at least 10 children during drug raids at residential units that year.

This was more than the four children rescued during raids in 2023, based on reported cases.

A total of 3,119 drug abusers were arrested in 2024, according to CNB's annual statistics report released on Feb 12. New abusers totalled 966 in 2024, more than the 952 arrested in 2023.

Speaking to ST in an exclusive interview on Feb 26, SI Nasrin said: "Drugs don't only affect the people who abuse them. There are people who have never taken drugs but are suffering because their family members abused it."

The father of three girls aged eight to 13 added: "The ones who suffer most are the children. When they are exposed to drugs at such a young age, that leads to trauma and the mindset that taking drugs is normal."