"Zero tolerance—the manhunt for drug dealers has begun,” declared Hungary's Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
Bence Retvari announced that the Anti-Drug Task Force held its first meeting.
The session was attended by leaders from the police force, education sector, social services, and healthcare.
Retvari emphasized the need for coordinated efforts in the field, pointing out that new methods of drug trafficking have emerged in Hungary, with dealers offering extremely cheap narcotics in large quantities.
Laszlo Horvath, head of the task force stated,
“We have a Drug Crime Bureau with a special operations unit that can strike down on drug dealers at any given moment.”
A 150-member drug law enforcement police unit has already been established, alongside a 60-member operations unit.
Zero tolerance for dealers
In his annual State of the Nation address, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced a war against the spread of drugs, expressing concern over the rising statistics on drug trafficking and consumption. As a result, a zero-tolerance policy has been introduced against drug dealers.
Drug dealers destroy and kill other people's children,
Viktor Orban stated in his speech.
On Thursday, the prime minister announced the appointment of Laszlo Horvath as the government commissioner responsible for eliminating drug trafficking in the country. His task is to establish an action group that, starting from March 1, will launch an all out manhunt for drug dealers.
When it comes to our children’s safety, we cannot and will not show mercy,
the prime minister declared.
Amendment to the Constitution
At the latest government press briefing, Gergely Gulyas, head of the Prime Minister’s Office, announced an upcoming amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law.
The Constitution will explicitly prohibit drug use,
and it will establish that children’s physical, mental, and moral development must take precedence over all other rights except the right to life.
The minister also stated that left-wing-controlled districts cannot circumvent these regulations. “We must recognize that the illicit substance situation has worsened, which is why the prime minister expects strong action from Commissioner Laszlo Horvath. Deterrent laws must be introduced,” Gulyas emphasized.
Overwhelming public support
According to a survey by the Nezopont Institute, an overwhelming majority of voters support stricter action against drug dealers.
92% of active voters support stricter action against drug dealers, while only 7% do not.
The study also indicates broad national consensus, transcending party politics, finding no demographic group where support for the government's stance fell below 85%.
