Law easing punishment for drug couriers and drug dealers sent to Tokayev for signature

Senate deputies approved and sent amendments to the law on illegal drug trafficking to the head of state for signature, Nur.kz reports .

According to the above-mentioned amendments, Kazakhstan will soften the punishment for drug couriers and drug dealers who were involved in drug crimes due to naivety and frivolity. The main fight will be focused on the organizers of drug businesses – the terms of imprisonment for such persons will be increased up to life imprisonment.

what does the law provide

• delineation of liability for the illegal acquisition, storage, transportation for the purpose of sale, shipment of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues and for the illegal manufacture, processing, production of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues;
• strengthening criminal liability for officials who have committed crimes provided for in Article 297-1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, using their official position;
• establishment of criminal liability for the illegal cultivation of prohibited plants containing narcotic substances by a criminal group and in especially large quantities;
• establishing liability for the illegal circulation and production of potent substances within the country (currently only their smuggling is prosecuted);
• establishing liability for violation of the rules for handling precursors and potent substances;
• the concept of a potent substance is introduced;
• establishment, for the purposes of prevention, of a ban on the non-medical use of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, and also potent substances;
• Amendments have been made to the concept of “preparation” to establish the mass of controlled substances contained in the mixture, as well as to the concept of “toxicomania” to clearly define psychoactive substances that are not included in the list of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors subject to control in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanjar Adilov spoke about the legal consequences.

"The main message of the amendments concerns the strengthening of criminal liability for drug producers. Severe punishment – from 15 to 20 years of imprisonment, up to life imprisonment. Regarding drug dealers – criminal liability has been reduced from 15 to 12 years of imprisonment. Now some of the drug dealers convicted of drug trafficking (more than 1,000 convicted persons) will be entitled to parole. This will be done by filing a petition through the place of serving the sentence, or through lawyers. Each case will be considered individually by the court. Thus, the convicted persons will receive the corresponding right to a mitigated sentence," Adilov explained.

The Law “On Amendments and Supplements to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Issues of Combating the Illegal Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, Their Analogues, Precursors and Potent Substances” has been sent to President Tokayev for signature.

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