Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region
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Affairs, 2001) . The amount of drugs entering
or transiting through Brunei is minor; those
drugs smuggled into the territory are usually
from Malaysia . Among Narcotics Bureau
officials there is a growing concern that
the country may be used a transit route for
precursor chemicals; however, there is no
formal prevention strategy in place (United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2003) .
In 2001, a reported typical retail price for heroin
was US$112 per gram . In 2002, herbal cannabis
typically retailed at US$0 .10 per gram,
while methamphetamine had a typical retail
price of US$0 .40 per gram, indicating availability
and therefore implying the existence
of a market (United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime, 2004b) . It must be noted these
quoted prices appear too low when compared
to other neighbouring countries and can be
questioned for accuracy [attempts were made
to validate the claims but communications
proved unsuccessful] . However, if correct, the
figures would suggest a major market and
easy access, and therefore easy importation
and possible local production .
Arrest and seizure data
There were 701 recorded offences for illicit
drugs in 2003 (88% of whom were male),
with 203 convictions that year, and 415
arrests for 2004 by August (Narcotics Control
Bureau, 2004) . In late 2004, a member of
a law enforcement agency was arrested for
alleged use of drugs and for being found
in possession of several sachets of methamphetamine
(Brunei Direct, 2004) .
Seizures of the methamphetamines known as
‘syabu’ have fluctuated in recent years but
show a general decrease: 248 grams seized
in 2002, 139 grams in 2003, 343 grams to
17 August 2004; small amounts compared
with the 1650 grams seized in 2000 [note
there is a discrepancy between a decrease in
seizures and the rapid rise in the consumption
of methamphetamine; why this is the case
has not been explained] . The last known
seizure of heroin was of 3 .6 grams in 2002 .
Seizures of cannabis are also declining, from
1332 grams in 2002 to 237 grams by August
2004 . There have been no seizures of cough
mixture since 2001, and only 10 MDMA/
ecstasy pills have been seized since 2000
(Narcotics Control Bureau, 2004) .
Crop studies and crop eradication statistics
Brunei is not a known producer of opiates
or cannabis .
A1 .4 Drug-taking practices,
risk factors and trends
Most drug consumption would seem to be
oral, and not by inhalation or injection (United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2003) .
Information about drug-taking practices
and associated risk factors has not been
accessible . HIV infection was first identified
in Brunei in 1986 . By the end of 2004 there
were a cumulative total of 609 HIV infections
(males 89%) and 23 AIDS cases . Mode of
transmission was reported for 542 of these
cases, of which only one was injecting drug
use (World Health Organization, 2001, 2005) .
There is no available information about injecting
practices . [Note: there is a discrepancy
with the number of HIV infections linked to
drug injecting under the section on prevalence
of drug use and current HIV infections and
mode of transmission . Enquiries were made
about his discrepancy, but they proved
unsuccessful .]
A1 .5 Summary table
Estimated number of drug users Unknown
Main drugs used Methamphetamine, cannabis
Drugs injected Unknown
Estimated prevalence of
HIV infection among IDUs
Unknown
A1 .6 Country responses to drugs
Agreements and treaties
Brunei is a party to the Single Convention on
Narcotics 1961, the Convention on Psychotropic
Substances 1971 and the Convention
against Illicit Trafficking of Narcotics and
Psychotropic Substances 1988 (Narcotics
Control Bureau, personal communication,
2005) . Brunei is a signatory to the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) declaration
for a drug-free ASEAN by the year 2015 .
As a result, Brunei has a political commitment
to be a drug-free society by 2015 .
Policy responses
Brunei’s National Policy is based on supply
and demand reduction . With regard to supply
reduction the approach is to enhance enforcement
activities and to harmonise drug laws
with other legislation in the region . There
is a specific Drugs Laws and Poisons Act
that governs import, export and misuse of
licit drugs .
With regard to demand reduction, the focus
is on public awareness by promoting antidrugs
messages through the media to all
community members .
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1984 (MDA),
Chapter 27, is the principal legislation for
illicit drug trafficking and possession in
Brunei Darussalam . The MDA covers a range
of controlled drugs including narcotics
and psychotropic substances . In 1998, an
amendment upgraded methamphetamine
from a class B drug to a class A drug .
In line with its neighbours Singapore and
Malaysia, Brunei has enforced a provision
for a mandatory death penalty for trafficking
of the following amount or more of specific
drugs: heroin — 15gm, morphine — 15gm,
opium — 1200gm, cannabis — 500gm,
cannabis resin — 200gm, cocaine — 30gm,
and methamphetamine — 200gm .
There is a presumption clause that stipulates
that anyone caught in possession of a certain
amount of a controlled drug is presumed to
be trafficking the drug and the onus is on
the person to prove the drug of possession
is not for such purposes (Narcotics Control
Bureau, 2001, 2004) . Under Section 15 of
the MDA a person is presumed to be trafficking
if in possession of more than the
following: 2gm of heroin, 3gm of morphine,
100gm of opium, 15gm of cannabis, 10gm
of cannabis resin, 3gm of cocaine, or 20gm
of methamphetamine .
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Country profiles: Brunei Darussalam