Georgian Interior Ministry proposes tougher punishment for sale of drugs
The Georgian Interior Ministry says that ensuring tougher punishment for the sale of drugs is important to prevent drug crimes. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The Georgian Interior Ministry has proposed tougher punishment for the sale of drugs, as well as for psychotropic and psychoactive substances.
The ministry says that current deterrents are not sufficient to prevent such crimes.
According to the bill the minimal punishment for the sale of drugs, psychotropic and psychoactive substances will amount to 6-10 years, while the sale of drugs in large quantities will be punishable by 12-17 years in prison.
The sale of drugs in especially large quantities will be punishable by 14-20 years in prison (instead of the current 8-20 years in prison) or life imprisonment.
The bill is in full line with the best European experience, like in Germany, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and others,” said the ministry.
The bill has already been approved by the government and will be sent to parliament for final approval.
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has destroyed narcotic and psychoactive substances worth 6.5 mln GEL ($2.3 mln/€2.1 mln) which were seized in 765 cases of drug deals, says the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Georgian police have detained one foreign citizen for the illegal purchase and possession of 220 pills of Subutex in the Kvemo Kartli region. The Interior Ministry released the video of detention, without specifying the nationality of the detainee.
Nineteen pharmacies have been found in the Georgian capital Tbilisi by the investigative service of Georgia’s Finance Ministry to be selling psychoactive drugs illegally.
Georgian police officers have detained one individual for drug offences in the west Georgian town of Poti today.