Chamber of Deputies adopts “2 Mai” law
High-risk drug trafficking is no longer subject to suspended prison sentences, according to a law passed by Parliament.
Mihai Pelin, 06.03.2024, 13:50
Traffickers of high-risk drugs will no longer receive suspended prison sentences, while selling the psychoactive substances is now subject to prison sentences ranging from 3 to 10 years. The new law, dubbed “May 2”, rules out the possibility of serving the sentence on probation in the case of trafficking class-A drugs. The law was launched in the context of last summer’s road accident in the 2 Mai resort on the Romanian Black Seacoast, when a 19-year-old man driving under the influence of drugs ran over a group of young people, killing two. Police officers later found drugs in his car. Members of the Liberal Party, the initiators of this law say the new legal initiative comes in response to rising criminality in the area of drug trafficking. In turn, Social-Democrat deputy Daniel Suciu says drug abuse has long been ignored in Romania, and combating this phenomenon requires the concerted effort of all parliamentary groups.
“Drug abuse is a reality in nightclubs and schools. We’re talking about young people who ruin the lives of their peers. We will vote a draft law to prevent these bastards from receiving suspended sentences”.
Opposition party AUR deputy Gianina Șerban says additional measures are needed to combat drug abuse and trafficking.
“In addition to tougher sentences, which we completely agree with, we also need drug scanners in border checkpoints, detox and prevention centers, if we truly want to help these young addicts”.
“You can’t go around selling heroin or cocaine, destroying lives and then walk free. Drug traffickers belong in prison. We don’t need another tragedy like the one in 2 Mai”, Justice Minister Alina Gorghiu says. In 2022, over 800 people received final prison sentences for drug trafficking (whether at home or abroad). Of them, half are serving sentences in penitentiaries, but in 47% of these cases the courts of law suspended their sentence. In the first 10 months of 2023 some 10,780 drug-related criminal investigations were launched. At present, the youngest age associated with drug abuse is 12 years old in Romania. The EU Anti-Drug Agency is monitoring 930 new psychoactive substances, manufactured in illegal labs, with serious negative consequences for human health compared to traditional drugs. Their price is lower compared to class-A drugs, making them more attractive to young people, including in Romania. Without being subject to legal provisions, these substances affect how the brain works and produce behavioral changes and dependence. (VP)
