National Assembly Approves Bill to Combat Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances

During a public session held this Tuesday morning, chaired by National Assembly President Mr. Mohamed Bemba Meguett, the National Assembly approved a bill on combating narcotics and psychotropic substances.

The Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohamed Ould Soueydatt, explained that the new bill expands the scope of criminalization to include various acts related to narcotics and psychotropic substances—from production, manufacturing, processing, and possession to cultivation and trafficking—as well as activities involving equipment used in illicit production.

The Minister explained that the draft law criminalizes the establishment, leadership, financing, membership in, and support of organized criminal groups, while introducing stricter penalties for drug-related crimes involving violence, cross-border activities, abuse of authority, or vulnerable groups.

He also highlighted provisions for special investigative techniques, subject to judicial oversight, financial crime prevention, corporate criminal liability, and the treatment of drug users through voluntary or court-ordered rehabilitation.

For their part, members of Parliament welcomed the bill, stressing the growing threat of drugs to society and youth. They called for stronger controls in schools, awareness campaigns, improved drug-testing facilities, and expanded criminalization of drug production, possession, cultivation, and trafficking.