NOBODY INVOLVED IN DRUG TRAFFIC WILL BE AMNESTIED - INTERIOR MINISTRY

ZAGREB, Feb 1 (Hina) - Being prompted by the media reports on links between narco-dealers and some employees with the Croatian Interior Ministry, this ministry on Thursday issued a statement announcing that it would take tough sanctions against Ministry members involved in the drug traffic. The media raised such questions after a parliamentary discussion on the draft act on the drug prevention. The statement of the ministry underlines the readiness of police to fight against the drug smuggling and traffic by all available means. The ministry cites a few data to corroborate this assertion. Last year, 7,338 criminal acts relating to drugs were reported or by 13.5 percent more as against 1999. Police pressed charges against 9,740 persons i.e. by 287 people more in comparison to 1999. The police seized almost 800 kilograms of marijuana, over 900 kilogram of cocaine, some 10,000 ecstasy pills and over seven kilograms of heroin in 2000, read a statement. This January, the police broke a few drug smuggling chains and confiscated significant amounts of narcotics. The Ministry reiterates the fact that it has known names of 220 dealers but 80 percent of them are still at large. The Ministry is going on with the fight against this evil and nobody engaged in drug smuggling and sale would be amnesties. (hina) sb ms