Hungary’s new anti-drug crackdown leads to over 3,500 criminal cases
As a result of the government’s new programme launched three months ago to eradicate drug trafficking, more than 3,500 criminal proceedings have been launched, the government commissioner responsible for the programme, dubbed DELTA, told a press conference on Sunday.
Police officers have seized half a tonne of illicit drugs, 250 million forints (EUR 625,000) in cash, 100 vehicles, and goods worth some 100 million forints, Laszlo Horvath said. “As a result, not only local distributors, but also trafficking rings and criminals with international connections and dealing in mass production have been uncovered,” he said.
The amount of drugs traded in the country has dropped, consumption has gone down, and, in an important development, the number of new users also went down, Horvath noted. Sándor Töreki, a deputy police chief, said they had so far carried out raids in 558 bars with the involvement of over 28,000 officers. A total of 1,023 dealers were caught in action on the spot, he added.
The brunt of their work will come during the summer, while tasks also include monitoring online dealings, he said. “It is, however, a significant help for us that the government has earmarked 3 billion forints for the programme,” said Töreki.
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