STATEMENT BY MS TEE BOON PIN, DELEGATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE 79TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEMS 107, 108 AND 109: ON CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, COUNTERING THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES FOR CRIMINAL PURPOSES, AND INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL, THIRD COMMITTEE, 7 OCTOBER 2024

Mr Chair,

1 My intervention today addresses the two pressing and rapidly evolving threats of cybercrime and drugs. These crimes transcend national borders, and all countries have to work together against them.  The need for global efforts in preventing and addressing crimes was a prominent theme for the 33rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice earlier this year.

2 As an open and connected economy, Singapore is particularly concerned about cybercrime. The UNODC has described Southeast Asia as “ground zero” for the multi-billion dollar global internet scamming industry. A UNODC report in 2023 conservatively estimated the profits from scams in one Southeast Asian country at between 7.5 and 12.5 billion US dollars. Singapore is vulnerable as a digitally connected economy, with more than 46,000 reported scam cases in 2023 – nearly a 50 percent increase from 2022. To effectively counter such crime, Singapore has established strong regulatory frameworks and public-private partnerships with financial institutions, online platforms, and other stakeholders to enhance protection against malware and scams. We work closely with regional and international law enforcement counterparts to disrupt criminal networks and recover criminal proceeds.

3 As the ASEAN Voluntary Lead Shepherd for Cybercrime, Singapore works closely with ASEAN partners to bolster our efforts against cyber threats. In particular, Singapore will host the ASEAN Regional Computer Emergency Response Team in the future, to enable stronger regional cooperation and response towards emerging global cyber threats. Singapore also established the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence in 2019 to deepen the region’s cybersecurity capabilities.

Mr Chair,

4 Let me now turn to the scourge of drug abuse, which continues to blight the lives of people around the world. According to the 2024 UN World Drug Report, the number of people who use drugs has risen to 292 million in 2022, a 20 per cent increase over 10 years.

5 Singapore is highly vulnerable to an inflow of illicit drugs. We are an international hub located near major drug production centres. In light of our circumstances, Singapore has chosen to be drug free, not drug tolerant. We will not waver in our mission to achieve a society free of drug abuse, to ensure the safety and security of our people, who live in a country slightly smaller than New York City.

6 Besides deterrence, Singapore believes that harm prevention is key to an effective drug control strategy. We take a multi-faceted, evidence-based, approach towards drug control, comprising preventive education, strict laws, rigorous enforcement, and effective rehabilitation. Our holistic strategy enjoys strong public support, and has been effective in keeping our drug abuse rates to one of the lowest worldwide. 

7 However, global efforts are required to address the world drug problem. We reaffirm our support for the centrality of the three international drug control conventions, and acknowledge the important mandate of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), and UNODC in tackling the world drug problem. As a new CND member, Singapore is committed to supporting the work of the CND through policy discourse, capacity building, and sharing of scientific expertise. We will work together with UN member states to fully implement the recent High-Level Declaration adopted in the 67th Session of the CND.

Mr Chair,

8 Singapore remains resolute in our commitment to tackling existing and emerging transnational threats.  We will do so in close collaboration with all willing member states, and with institutions such as the UNODC. We hope that our collective efforts will create a safer future for all. 

9 Thank you.

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