Hungarian Lawmaker Calls for Stricter Drug Legislation Following Drug Lab Case
Németh Szilárd advocates for mandatory penalties in drug-related offenses after court allows suspects to remain free.
Németh Szilárd, a member of the Hungarian Parliament from the ruling Fidesz party, has publicly called for the enactment of new legislation that would eliminate discretion for judges in drug-related cases, asserting that drug manufacturers and traffickers belong in prison.
This statement was made via Szilárd's Facebook page in response to a recent court ruling that allowed three suspects, linked to a significant drug laboratory operation in Csepel, to avoid detention.
The case stems from a police raid conducted last week at a lab operating within the Csepel Works area, where authorities accused three men of being involved in various drug-related crimes.
Although the police requested their detention, the Budapest Central District Court denied the applications.
The court stated that the prosecution did not sufficiently prove that the suspects acquired the illegal substances with the intention of producing drugs.
The court's decision is not final, as the prosecution has filed an appeal against it.
Szilárd expressed disbelief over the court's decision to release the three individuals, highlighting the scale of the drug operation, which has been described as one of the largest in Hungary's criminal history.
According to Szilárd, police confiscated 70.3 kilograms of crystal meth, valued at approximately 500 million forints, alongside 7.5 tons of precursor chemicals.
The estimated black market value of these precursors could have reached 12 billion forints if distributed.
Additionally, authorities seized 5.5 million forints in cash, 60,000 euros, and bonds worth 30 million forints.
Horváth László, the government commissioner for drug control, echoed Szilárd's sentiments, stating on Facebook that the legal environment must be clarified to prevent such decisions from occurring in the future.
An amendment to drug legislation was submitted just a week prior to these events, proposing that individuals who assist others in drug use or distribution could face a minimum of two years imprisonment.
If the drug crime made narcotics accessible to more than ten people, the penalty could rise to three years.
The proposed changes also include stricter rules regarding conditional release for repeat offenders in drug trafficking, as well as penalties ranging from one to five years for drug dealers.
This statement was made via Szilárd's Facebook page in response to a recent court ruling that allowed three suspects, linked to a significant drug laboratory operation in Csepel, to avoid detention.
The case stems from a police raid conducted last week at a lab operating within the Csepel Works area, where authorities accused three men of being involved in various drug-related crimes.
Although the police requested their detention, the Budapest Central District Court denied the applications.
The court stated that the prosecution did not sufficiently prove that the suspects acquired the illegal substances with the intention of producing drugs.
The court's decision is not final, as the prosecution has filed an appeal against it.
Szilárd expressed disbelief over the court's decision to release the three individuals, highlighting the scale of the drug operation, which has been described as one of the largest in Hungary's criminal history.
According to Szilárd, police confiscated 70.3 kilograms of crystal meth, valued at approximately 500 million forints, alongside 7.5 tons of precursor chemicals.
The estimated black market value of these precursors could have reached 12 billion forints if distributed.
Additionally, authorities seized 5.5 million forints in cash, 60,000 euros, and bonds worth 30 million forints.
Horváth László, the government commissioner for drug control, echoed Szilárd's sentiments, stating on Facebook that the legal environment must be clarified to prevent such decisions from occurring in the future.
An amendment to drug legislation was submitted just a week prior to these events, proposing that individuals who assist others in drug use or distribution could face a minimum of two years imprisonment.
If the drug crime made narcotics accessible to more than ten people, the penalty could rise to three years.
The proposed changes also include stricter rules regarding conditional release for repeat offenders in drug trafficking, as well as penalties ranging from one to five years for drug dealers.
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