Experts Warn S'pore Must Beware Serious Dangers of Synthetic Drugs

Synthetic drugs like fentanyl have become so potent that illegal drug producers are intentionally weakening the dosage to prevent the drugs from killing their customers, said a veteran British journalist.

- Andrew Wong

Englishman Joan Grillo has reported on the drug scene from Mexico for more than two decades and is in Singapore to speak at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs, which takes place at Furama RiverFront Hotel from May 15 to 17.

Used as a painkiller, fentanyl—a Class A controlled drug in Singapore—is estimated to be up to 100 times more potent than morphine.

It killed 76,000 people in the US in 2023, and 48,422 in 2024.

In his opening address at the forum, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said the threat of synthetic drugs is coming closer to home, after reports emerged in March that Malaysia had found traces of fentanyl in its sewage systems.

Tapping his experiences with drug cartels in Mexico, Mr Grillo said fentanyl has killed so many people that it is actually bad business for drug sellers.

He said: "Because you're killing off your customers. So they're trying to find ways to mix it up with other drugs or tranquilizers."

Mr Grillo said that 20 years ago, he would be able to have a conversation with a drug user or addict.

But the effects of synthetic drugs are more pronounced, such that he can barely make sense of his conversations with drug users today.