Parliament adopts drug bill

THE Combating of the Abuse of Drugs Bill was adopted in the National Assembly on Tuesday without amendments and after a very low-key debate.

Safety and Security Minister Peter Tsheehama tabled the bill, which provides for stiff sentences, five weeks ago. It prohibits the consumption, trafficking, sale and possession of dangerous, undesirable and dependence-producing substances and prescribes jail terms between 20 and 40 years, or fines between N$300 000 and N$500 000, or both.For anyone caught with drugs acquired outside the existing Medicines Act, prison will be the only option.Namibia has not yet ratified the UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotrophic Substances of 1988 because of a lack of national legislation, said Gabes Shihepo, Deputy Minister of Safety and Security.”It will be ratified in this House as soon as the new Bill comes into operation,” Shihepo added, when delivering his reply at the end of the debate.To underline the importance of the new Bill, Shihepo said drug abuse in the country had reached “alarming proportions”.Namibia was also internationally regarded as a consumer country for “all kinds of illicit drugs” and as a transit route for drugs destined for other nations.However, 90 per cent of all drugs confiscated by the Police in Namibia were destined for the Namibian market, he added.”About two million Namibia dollars’ worth of drugs have been confiscated since May 2005 up to today and 800 people arrested,” Shihepo said.In terms of the new legislation, Police may enter premises without a warrant if they suspect a person of cultivating plants “from which a drug can be extracted”.People who seek prescription for medicines but fail to inform the doctor or any other person who may lawfully provide such drugs that he or she already received drugs from somebody else less than 30 days ago, will be fined N$300 000 or sent to prison for 20 years.The new law requires pharmacies and other recognised retailers in controlled drugs to report any suspicions they might have about any clients who buy such drugs.If owners or managers of public places, like discos and nightclubs, allow drug consumption on the premises, the same stiff sentences apply.If the owners and managers of such places suspect individuals of consuming or possessing such drugs, they must report it to the Police.The same heavy sentences will be imposed if a person is found guilty of mixing drugs with the food and drink of another person.Investigators may also seize computers and electronic data related to drug abuse and trafficking.Any person deliberately erasing such electronic data will face a fine of N$300 000, or 20 years in prison, or both.The new Bill replaces the outdated Abuse of Dependence-producing Substances Act of 1971.Shihepo also announced that Police narcotics officers would attend a course on advanced methods of drug investigation next week.Lecturers from South Africa will present the course.It prohibits the consumption, trafficking, sale and possession of dangerous, undesirable and dependence-producing substances and prescribes jail terms between 20 and 40 years, or fines between N$300 000 and N$500 000, or both.For anyone caught with drugs acquired outside the existing Medicines Act, prison will be the only option.Namibia has not yet ratified the UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotrophic Substances of 1988 because of a lack of national legislation, said Gabes Shihepo, Deputy Minister of Safety and Security.”It will be ratified in this House as soon as the new Bill comes into operation,” Shihepo added, when delivering his reply at the end of the debate.To underline the importance of the new Bill, Shihepo said drug abuse in the country had reached “alarming proportions”.Namibia was also internationally regarded as a consumer country for “all kinds of illicit drugs” and as a transit route for drugs destined for other nations.However, 90 per cent of all drugs confiscated by the Police in Namibia were destined for the Namibian market, he added.”About two million Namibia dollars’ worth of drugs have been confiscated since May 2005 up to today and 800 people arrested,” Shihepo said.In terms of the new legislation, Police may enter premises without a warrant if they suspect a person of cultivating plants “from which a drug can be extracted”.People who seek prescription for medicines but fail to inform the doctor or any other person who may lawfully provide such drugs that he or she already received drugs from somebody else less than 30 days ago, will be fined N$300 000 or sent to prison for 20 years.The new law requires pharmacies and other recognised retailers in controlled drugs to report any suspicions they might have about any clients who buy such drugs.If owners or managers of public places, like discos and nightclubs, allow drug consumption on the premises, the same stiff sentences apply.If the owners and managers of such places suspect individuals of consuming or possessing such drugs, they must report it to the Police.The same heavy sentences will be imposed if a person is found guilty of mixing drugs with the food and drink of another person.Investigators may also seize computers and electronic data related to drug abuse and trafficking.Any person deliberately erasing such electronic data will face a fine of N$300 000, or 20 years in prison, or both.The new Bill replaces the outdated Abuse of Dependence-producing Substances Act of 1971.Shihepo also announced that Police narcotics officers would attend a course on advanced methods of drug investigation next week.Lecturers from South Africa will present the course.