Hungary is getting serious about its drug laws and making sure kids are protected from narcotics, which represent a growing problem in Europe.
“There is no bargaining with those who harm our children,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said, on the occasion of the legislation coming into force this past Sunday.
“There will be reparation work during the execution of the sentence, an aggravating circumstance is if a crime is committed while under the influence of drugs, drug dealers can be banned from certain settlements, and anyone who is intoxicated or unconscious in a public area will be taken into custody,” the prime minister listed the stricter measures, as cited by Magyar Nemzet.
László Horváth, government commissioner responsible for the eradication of drug trafficking, also told Kossuth Radio that per Hungary’s new anti-drug law, “police will immediately seize not only the assets or tools of drug dealers, but also those movable and immovable properties – such as cars and apartments – that are in the name of another person but were used for drug trafficking and distribution.”
The commissioner also pointed out that under the stricter regulations, drug dealers can be banned from the town or area where they sold drugs. Additionally, distributing new psychoactive substances is no longer considered a misdemeanor, but a criminal offense.
László Horváth confirmed that “persons found guilty of a drug offense for the second time cannot be released on parole, meaning that no leniency can be applied to repeat offenders.”
“Since consumption is also a crime, according to the stricter measures, the consumer can only be exempted from punishment if he names who he got the drug from, or if he is unable to do so, he must assist the police with substantive information,” he added.
“If someone breaks in, steals, robs, or commits violence to obtain drugs, then from now on it is not a minor violation, but a serious case, i.e. a crime. Also, if someone commits a crime while under the influence of drugs, this is also an aggravating circumstance,” the commissioner clarified.
Horváth pointed out that drug trafficking has become an international industry and is consciously building its market, operating large production units, trade chains, distribution networks and media outlets. A lot of drugs and active ingredients come from China, cocaine is typically transported from Colombia, and there are also European supply points on the designer drug market, he said.
The amount of drugs on the market has decreased in the past three months, Horváth told listeners, and with the tightening of the law, the police have received new, more effective tools than before.
He indicated that many civil society organizations have joined the effort, and the next step is to broaden this social cooperation and increase the resilience of local communities, adding that new civil police organizations will be established in the most at risk areas.
“I would like there to be local groups that constantly monitor what is happening locally and pay attention to those children, young people, and families who are or may be in danger,” the government commissioner emphasized.
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