On Improving Anti-Drug Legislation
As of October 27, 2019, amendments to the Criminal Code came into force. In particular, the lower limit of punishment under Article 328 of the Criminal Code "Illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors and analogues" has been reduced.
Under Part 2 of Article 328 of the Criminal Code (illegal manufacture, processing, acquisition, storage, transportation or shipment, or illegal sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their precursors or analogues for the purpose of sale), the term of imprisonment has been reduced by two years: from five to three years; under Part 3 of Article 328 of the Criminal Code (actions provided for in Part 2 of Article 328 of the Criminal Code, committed by a group of persons, or by an official using their official powers, or by a person who previously committed crimes provided for in this article, Articles 327, 329 or 331 of the Criminal Code, or in relation to narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues in large quantities, or in relation to especially dangerous narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, or the sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors or analogues on the territory of an educational institution, healthcare organization, military unit, correctional institution, detention facility, places of detention, medical and labor dispensary, at the place of a mass event or to a knowingly minor) the term has been reduced from eight to six years.
At the same time, the upper limit of punishment remained unchanged, which will allow for a more differentiated approach to sentencing under the specified parts of this article.
It should be noted that a person who voluntarily surrendered narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors or analogues and actively assisted in identifying or suppressing a crime related to the illegal trafficking of these substances, exposing the persons who committed them, detecting property obtained by criminal means, is exempt from criminal liability for this crime.
Assistant Prosecutor of the District
Lawyer 1st Class E.L. Kabachevskaya