Cabinet Rejects Tougher Drug Penalties: Prisons Could Become Overcrowded

The government has rejected a draft law proposing amendments to the Criminal Code in the field of combating illegal drug trafficking and drug use. The document envisaged a significant tightening of penalties, including longer prison sentences and the introduction of life imprisonment for aggravated forms of drug-related crimes, logos-press.md reports. The Cabinet issued a negative opinion on the legislative initiative. It emphasized that introducing life imprisonment for drug-related offenses would be “excessive” and incompatible with established legal practice, where such punishment is traditionally reserved for the gravest crimes, such as murder. The opinion also noted that the draft law does not fully comply with European Union standards in the field of anti-drug policy, which promote a balance between punitive measures, prevention, and treatment. In addition, the government warned that harsher penalties could lead to overcrowding in penitentiary institutions, increased state expenditures, and a worsening of problems within the detention system. This phenomenon also creates serious public health risks, contributing to the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis.