Plans to amend Act, tougher penalties for offences: Kramer

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE Government plans to amend the Drugs Act 1954 to have tougher penalties for serious drug offences such as cocaine smuggling, says Police Minister Bryan Kramer.
He was commenting on two recent incidents of multi-million kina cocaine smuggling involving the country as a transit point.
Kramer said Government MPs agreed that there should be changes to the law because the current maximum penalty of two years was so low, and meant for marijuana smugglers only.
“There is strong support for sweeping changes, legislative changes to our Drugs Act,” Kramer said.
“The penalty of two years was for marijuana.
“There was no provision to capture serious drugs trafficking.”
He said the changes could be made by the end of the year.
“There have been discussions between the Australian Federal Police, my office and Police Commissioner on what are the legislative framework and terms of prosecution and penalties in Australia because they are more advanced in drug trafficking.”