"13 tons of narcotics inadequately stored in Serbia"

BELGRADE The Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti writes that "more than 13 tons of marijuana, heroin, cocaine" and other seized narcotics are being stored in Serbia. The daily says that the conditions under which the drugs are being kept are "inadequate." According to some information, "not a gram" of confiscated drugs has been destroyed in Serbia since 1999. "13 tons of narcotics inadequately stored in Serbia" As a consequence, there is "great danger for the health of (police) operatives" - but there are also fears of abuses - i.e., of the drugs "returning to the streets." The latter concern was highlighted recently in the western town of Valjevo, when several police officers were arrested for selling previously confiscated drugs. MUP State Secretary Vladimir Bozovic said recently that the problem was "endangering the health of not only police employees but also of the citizens." He stressed that bureaucratic obstacles must not stand in the way of finding a solution, and that the authorities "must find a way to speed up the prescribed procedures." According to the newspaper, the legal requirements to destroy the confiscated drugs have been met, "but the Ministry of Health was hampering the process." Officials of the Interior Ministry (MUP) say that they had adopted appropriate environmental studies in order to dispose of the drugs safely, but that "just as everything was done and they were ready to start destroying the narcotics, the Ministry of Health made its objections, and then everything stopped." The MUP sources also said that as the study had come into effect in early February 2011, and the Ministry of Health submitted its objections only in April 2012 - instead of within 15 days - the study itself is now obsolete. (Tanjug, file) Vecernje novosti

"13 tons of narcotics inadequately stored in Serbia"

As a consequence, there is "great danger for the health of (police) operatives" - but there are also fears of abuses - i.e., of the drugs "returning to the streets." The latter concern was highlighted recently in the western town of Valjevo, when several police officers were arrested for selling previously confiscated drugs.

MUP State Secretary Vladimir Božović said recently that the problem was "endangering the health of not only police employees but also of the citizens."

He stressed that bureaucratic obstacles must not stand in the way of finding a solution, and that the authorities "must find a way to speed up the prescribed procedures."

According to the newspaper, the legal requirements to destroy the confiscated drugs have been met, "but the Ministry of Health was hampering the process."

Officials of the Interior Ministry (MUP) say that they had adopted appropriate environmental studies in order to dispose of the drugs safely, but that "just as everything was done and they were ready to start destroying the narcotics, the Ministry of Health made its objections, and then everything stopped."

The MUP sources also said that as the study had come into effect in early February 2011, and the Ministry of Health submitted its objections only in April 2012 - instead of within 15 days - the study itself is now obsolete.