Government position
The Cabinet of Ministers has prepared a negative opinion on this legislative initiative. It emphasizes that the introduction of life imprisonment for drug-related crimes is “excessive” and incompatible with legal practice, where such punishment traditionally involves the most serious acts, such as murder.
The opinion also notes that the draft does not fully comply with EU standards for anti-drug policy, which promotes a balance between punitive measures, prevention and treatment.
In addition, the government warns that the application of harsher penalties could lead to overcrowding in penitentiary institutions, increasing state expenditures and exacerbating problems in the detention system. This phenomenon also poses serious health risks, contributing to the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and tuberculosis.
Authors’ arguments
It is worth noting that this draft law was put forward as a legislative initiative by deputies from “Our Party”. The document aims to toughen sanctions for persons who promote, trade or facilitate drug use. In the case of drug trafficking for the purpose of sale under aggravating circumstances – such as large or especially large size, involvement of organized criminal groups or other qualifying features – it is proposed to significantly increase the prison terms. These would range from 12 to 15 years or 15 to 20 years, and in the most serious cases could reach 20 to 25 years’ imprisonment or life imprisonment, including a ban on holding certain positions and increased sanctions for legal persons.
The legislative initiative also provides for severe penalties for those who induce others to use illicit substances or provide premises for their use.
“In the Republic of Moldova, drug use and trafficking has long ceased to be an isolated problem associated exclusively with marginalized segments of society. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the number of criminal cases and persons involved. In 2024 alone, 1,075 criminal cases were initiated for drug-related offenses and 582 cases reached trial. A total of 692 people were under investigation for such crimes, most of them men, many of them first-time offenders and officially unemployed. These figures show that the scale of the phenomenon is already directly affecting public safety and order in our communities,” the authors of the project argue.
Despite the negative opinion of the executive branch, the legislative initiative will be considered and discussed at the plenary session of the Parliament.
