Both chambers of National Assembly approve anti-drug decree

On Thursday, the Council of the Republic and the House of Representatives approved  amendments to the Criminal Code aimed at combating drug trafficking, interfax.by reports.

In late December 2014, Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed Decree #6 "On Urgent Measures to combat drug trafficking". The decree came into force on 1 January 2015.

According to the document, criminal liability for crimes related to drug trafficking was toughened.

Thus, the maximum term of imprisonment for acts involving the sale of drugs in the presence of aggravating factors (for example, a group of persons, or for particularly dangerous drugs, or on a large scale, or in the territory of the educational institution) - from 13 to 15 years; selling drugs to a minor - from 8 to 15 years; actions associated with the sale of drugs, committed by an organized group - from 15 to 20 years, as well as for the manufacture or processing of drugs in the laboratory - from 8 to 20 years.

The criminal liability age for the actions associated with the sale of drugs was lowered - from 16 to 14 years.

The document also contains provisions that allow to promptly prohibit trafficking in Belarus new psychoactive substances (smoking mixtures, "Spice") and to prosecute their distributors.

It also introduces mandatory identification of owners of electronic purses created in electronic payment systems operating in the territory of Belarus (regardless of the amount of money kept in such electronic purses).

Photo - belarus.by