Authorities Unveil Anti-Drug Proposals
The General Prosecutor?s Office unveiled proposals envisaging the confiscation of property from drug dealers. The proposals also target drug abusers, the deputy chief prosecutor, Nika Gvaramia, said on May 15.
The relevant draft law, which will be presented to the president, who will then submit it to Parliament, is part of the authorities? wide-scale anti-drug campaign under the slogan ?drug addiction is a shame; drug dealers sell death.?
According to the proposals, drug addicts will be deprived of their driving license for three years, and denied the right to work in the medical or educational spheres. They will not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms and they will be prevented from going forward for elected positions or working for any state agency.
?These measures will not be enough to defeat this disease. The efficient performance of law enforcement agencies and this legislation should be complemented by all the major institutions, including the church and media,? the deputy chief prosecutor said.
The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), an independent body established by the UN to implement its international drug conventions, said in its report last year that official estimates indicate there are 275,000 drug abusers in Georgia, which is an 80% increase on the 2003 figure.
The increase is mainly attributed to the importation and illegal sale of buprenorphine tablets, otherwise known as subutex.
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