Special Program "MAC"

There is no doubt that the problem of drug addiction concerns everyone and causes great anxiety in society.

It should be noted that addiction to drugs such as heroin, methadone, and smoking mixtures containing psychotropic substances can occur after a single use. Narcotic substances of plant origin, such as marijuana or poppy straw, which drug addicts consider "light," are no less evil. A naive delusion.

From June 1, 2023, to September 15, 2023, a special program "MAC" is being conducted in the Postavy district.

The main objectives of the "MAC" program are:

conducting widespread outreach among the population about the harmful consequences of drug use, the danger posed by growing poppy and hemp plants in household and garden plots, and the need to destroy their crops. Developing intolerance among the population towards individuals who use narcotic substances, grow drug-containing plants, and sell them;

outreach among the population about the responsibility provided by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus for sowing and growing poppy and hemp plants;

comprehensive measures to identify and destroy poppy and hemp crops, bringing offenders to administrative and criminal liability;

identifying and detaining individuals involved in the procurement of narcotic raw materials, manufacturing narcotic substances from them, bringing identified individuals to justice, or further conducting operational-search and other activities against this category of individuals;

Many residents of the district center also have household plots and dachas. Amateur gardeners need to be reminded once again that there is responsibility for growing poppy and hemp on household plots. It does not matter whether these plants grow on the landowner's plot for personal use or simply for beauty. For illegal sowing or growing without the purpose of selling or manufacturing narcotic substances, one will have to answer under Article 17.1 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses (sowing or growing plants and fungi prohibited for cultivation that contain narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances). Violation of this article entails a fine of up to twenty basic units. In 2022, 18 facts of illegal sowing and growing (occurrence) of drug-containing poppy and hemp plants were identified on the plots of residents of the Postavy district, 18 citizens were brought to administrative responsibility, and 7.462 kg of poppy plants growing on a total area of 53 m² were destroyed. If drug-containing plants are grown for the purpose of selling or manufacturing narcotic substances, then responsibility arises under Article 329 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. This unlawful act is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, and the same actions committed repeatedly or by a group of persons may be punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to seven years. In cases where this act is committed by an organized group, this article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of five to fifteen years with confiscation of property.

In 2022, 2 crimes were identified: Part 1 of Article 328 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, Part 1 of Article 329 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. In criminal cases, 76.04 grams of the narcotic substance "marijuana" were seized.

I hope that the townspeople and residents of our district will not stand aside from the problem of illegal cultivation of drug-containing plants and will assist police officers. Report all known facts of the growth of drug-containing plants and the involvement of individuals in their illegal cultivation to the Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs by phone: 102 or 4-32-25, +375-33-377-17-30 (MTS). Confidentiality is guaranteed.

Senior operative of the Department for Drug Control and Combating Human Trafficking of the Criminal Police of the Postavy District Department of Internal Affairs

Senior Lieutenant of Police M.S. Khodan