04/19/11 – On April 18 2011, the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District (ALDF) approved with a unanimous vote amendments to various laws regarding public security. These laws include the Organic Law of the Superior Tribunal of Justice (Ley Orgánica del Tribunal Superior de Justicia), the Criminal Procedure Code (al Código de Procedimientos Penales), and the Health Act (Ley de Salud), which have been reformed in order to give powers to local judges in addressing and resolving complaints on cases related to drug smuggling.
One of the reforms presented provides that the Attorney General of the State of Mexico (PGJDF) will be able to decipher and rule whether those detained for distributing drugs also have a drug addiction problem on top of his or her involvement in the narcotics trade. The PGJDF will have 48 hours to render a decision. Additionally, “these reforms… require the government of the Federal District to carry out actions that will implement programs of prevention in terms of addictions, especially smoking, alcoholism and substance abuse,” stated the Mexican daily newspaper Milenio. Specialized units will be created to investigate and prosecute these types of crimes. The Superior Tribunal of Justice of the Federal District (Tribunal Superior de Justicia del Distrito Federal), known by the acronym TSJDF, is expected to begin resolving these types of cases starting at the beginning of 2012.
Sources:
Cruz, Abigail. “Combatirán autoridades del DF el narcomenudeo.” El Sol de Mexico. 19 April, 2011.
Guitierrez, Carlos. “PGJDF podrá detener a narcomenudistas : ALDF.” Milenio. 19 April, 2011.
