Poverty pushes farmers to “push weed”

The Internal Ministry (MAI) deals with an increasing number of farmers planting poppy and cannabis. Due to lack of other resources of decent life, more and more plot owners are tempted by easy earnings promises, transforming themselves into drug business links and risking imprisonment sentences or significant fines. During a MAI traditional briefing, Ilie Jecicov, head of the Anti-drug Department announced on Tuesday, 8 August, that in the light of the latest legal amendments the punishment for such offences became tougher. Until November 2005, poppy and hemp planters risked only a fine, now they risk up to 5 years imprisonment. During just one month, 351 offences regarding poppy and hemp planting were disclosed. According to him, an increasing number of drug users is noted, especially of herbal ones. Concomitantly, their export volume from Moldova to Ukraine, Russia and Romania increased. At the same time, the amount of synthetic drugs entering Moldova grew. The police stopped 23 networks practicing these imports. He also noted that certain drugstores spread psychotropic and narcotic substances, selling drugs without recipes. The number of drug users has increased, compared with 1995, over 5 fold, getting this year to 9,000 persons. In the first 6 months of 2006, the police has confiscated 193 kg of poppy hey, 293 kg of marijuana, 8 liters of opium and about 5,000 synthetic tablets. MAI highlights that, for the moment, only two cocaine users are registered in RM.