Shocking government accusation: Budapest promotes drug use instead of combating it
“The place for drug dealers is in prison,” the state secretary of the interior ministry told public television on Tuesday in connection with the establishment of a new police unit fighting drug crime.
Bence Rétvári said the unit set up on Jan 1 has a staff of 150 to investigate criminal activities, in addition to an active group of 60 officers tasked with clamping down on drugs distribution networks. He said Hungary’s conservative drugs policy aimed at preventing and terminate all drug consumption. Meanwhile, in an interview to public radio, Rétvári noted that the operative basis of the new drug-fighting team is similar to an investigative team was set up a few years ago to fight online scams.
As well as a Budapest unit, there are 6 units outside the capital. He criticized Budapest city leaders for their reluctance to take action against drug crime. The State Secretary stressed that the leadership of the Municipality of the capital does not even want to take action against drug crime. Their drug strategy is all about how to promote the use of drugs under regulated conditions, even with “shooting rooms”, drug testing centres, almost as if they were running a consumer protection agency. “It is nonsense that the capital city would promote the use of drugs instead of fighting against it. It is very dangerous!” the pro-government politician noted.
The new drugs of uncertain origin from international networks are very cheap; a dose can be bought for 2,000 or even 500 forints, which is why they are very dangerous, and they must be combated, he added. So far, drugs with a street value of 150 million forints (EUR 370,000) have been seized, he added.
Back in December, the staff of the NAV Airport Directorate found a total of 55 kilograms of brownish-green plant derivatives packed in plastic bags in the luggage of three people selected for inspection. The test confirmed that the seized substance was cannabis, with an estimated value of more than 250 million forints.The police have opened criminal proceedings in the case, the NAV said.
Fidesz is criticizing harm reduction policies in Budapest which are put in place to reduce deaths. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the ability to “go after drug dealers”. The availability of naloxone kits for example has saved many thousands of lives around the world. Does the goverment want drug users to die in back allies? God forbid that it doesn’t happen to your family member.
I used a double negative. It should be God forbid that it happens to your family member.