TRAFFICKING IN PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the empirical research carried out at the Higher Court in Niš in the period from 01/01/2013 to 01/01/2016. On the basis of the statistical data collected on narcotics-related crimes, the paper shows how many final judgments were imposed for each of these criminal offences in the observed period. Most commonly, these crimes are directly committed by young men, whereas women are mostly complicit in these criminal offences. Given the fact that the number of criminal offences related to narcotics increases year after year, it may be concluded that the abuse of psychoactive substances represents an unsolvable problem. The research was aimed at determining the number of judgments rendered for the criminal offences of complicity, as well as the most commonly trafficked narcotics, where marijuana seems to prevail. The research was also aimed at examining the penal policy pertaining to criminal offences related to narcotics, including both criminal sanctions and safety measures imposed on the perpetrators of these criminal offences.