Drug addiction is a global threat to public health, the economy, law and order, and state security. This issue receives enormous attention at the highest level. The Head of State regularly holds meetings where specific tasks are set for drug prevention. Despite the measures taken, the problem remains relevant. In the republic, and the Vitebsk region is no exception, there is a tendency to increase the number of crimes of this category. They are also registered annually in Postavy district. Thus, in 2023, 2 crimes related to illicit drug trafficking and psychotropic substances were identified in our district: under Part 1 of Article 328 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors and analogues) and under Article 330 of the Criminal Code (violation of rules for handling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances). In the first case, during operational-search activities, a resident of Postavy was detained who was producing extraction opium (poppy straw extract) from drug-containing raw materials at his place of residence. In the second case, employees of one of the district's healthcare institutions violated the rules for storing psychotropic substances, which led to the loss of 1 ampoule of the psychotropic substance "Promedol". Also, 2 crimes were identified in 2022. One - under Part 1 of Article 328, the second - under Part 1 of Article 329 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (illegal sowing and (or) cultivation of plants or fungi containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances). In particular, during operational-search activities, a native of Postavy, residing in Minsk and working there as a taxi driver, was detained. He regularly came to Postavy, where he cultivated hemp on a plot of land near one of the houses on Leninskaya Street. At the time of detention, he had 76.04 grams of marijuana. Similar crimes were registered in 2021 and 2020. To prevent, identify, and suppress offenses and crimes related to the illegal sowing, cultivation, harvesting, and subsequent trafficking of drug-containing plants, the Internal Affairs Department of the District Executive Committee annually conducts a set of operational and preventive measures within the framework of the special program "Poppy," which runs from June 1 to September 15. During this program, the public is informed about the harmful effects of drug use, the legal responsibility for sowing and cultivating poppy and hemp plants, their crops are destroyed, and offenders are brought to administrative and criminal responsibility. Also, individuals involved in the procurement of drug raw materials and the production of narcotic drugs from them are identified and detained. Last year, during the "Poppy" program in Postavy district, 15 facts of illegal sowing and cultivation of poppy and hemp were identified, 15 citizens were brought to administrative responsibility, 6.31 kg of poppy plants growing on a total area of 32 square meters were destroyed. In addition, one crime related to the production of extraction opium from poppy straw was identified. This year, there are already 2 facts of poppy cultivation, 2.1 kg of plants on a total area of 6 square meters have been destroyed. The individuals who cultivated them have been brought to administrative responsibility. I want to remind amateur gardeners that illegal sowing or cultivation of poppy and hemp without the purpose of selling or producing narcotic drugs entails responsibility under Article 17.1 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses. Its sanction provides for a fine of up to 20 basic units. And in this case, it does not matter whether the plants grow on the landowner's plot for personal consumption or for beauty. If they are cultivated for the purpose of sale or production of narcotic drugs, then responsibility arises under Article 329 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Such an unlawful act is punishable by imprisonment for up to 3 years, and the same actions committed repeatedly or by a group of persons entail imprisonment for a term of 3 to 7 years. In connection with the above, I urge citizens to immediately destroy poppy and hemp on their household and garden plots.
Source: postawy.by