SINGAPORE - Singapore's Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam on Thursday warned of a worsening global drug situation and called for greater international cooperation.

"Worldwide, the number of people using drugs rose to nearly 300 million in 2022, which is a 20 percent increase compared to 10 years ago," he said in a speech during the Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs.

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Synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine, have driven a global surge in drug abuse. These substances can be produced anywhere and at any time, he noted, citing the latest World Drug Report, which shows that methamphetamine is now the dominant drug being seized.

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"At the same time, drugs themselves are becoming more potent," he said, highlighting the threat in Asia and the strong nexus between drugs and crime.

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He announced the formation of the Asia-Pacific Confederation against Drugs, a regional coalition of NGOs that will advocate for stronger drug demand reduction efforts and the creation of drug-free societies.