With a sheepdog and without warning: a raid on student dormitories took place in Minsk

As part of the "Make the Right Choice" campaign, police officers and prosecutors conducted a raid on the dormitories of students of the Oktyabrsky district on September 25. What are the results of the inspection, read the material of the correspondent of the agency "Minsk-news".

The sudden inspection affected two facilities — the hostels of the Minsk State Mechanical and Technological College and the International University "MITSO". The main purpose of the joint departure was the prevention of offenses in the youth environment, the suppression of drug and vape trafficking, as well as monitoring compliance with the rules of residence. The raid was organized by the commission and the juvenile affairs inspectorate with the participation of a representative of the prosecutor's office.

— Today, there is a decrease in the number of crimes related to drug trafficking among adolescents in the country. However, this topic remains under constant control. Entering adulthood and settling in dormitories, freshmen often strive for independence and, unfortunately, sometimes succumb to the promises of "easy money", — said the head of the Inspectorate for Juvenile Affairs of the Public Security Police of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Oktyabrsky district of Minsk, police lieutenant colonel Pavel Goman. — Our goal is to warn students in time with the help of such raids and training of dormitories, explain the consequences and stop both the use of vapes and any attempts to draw teenagers into illegal activities.

Before the start of the inspection of the premises, a preventive conversation was held for students, during which they were told in detail about the danger and strict responsibility for the use and distribution of prohibited substances. Representatives of the prosecutor's office and the police reminded the teenagers of Art. 328 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, emphasizing that even for the usual transfer of a substance to friends or storage without a purpose of sale, serious punishment is provided.

— The drug business lures teenagers with promises of easy money, but the price for a couple of bookmarks is real and very severe terms of imprisonment. In our practice, there is an example when a 16-year-old student received 9 years in a colony without the right to early release for such an attempt to earn extra money. He never saw any money, and he spends the best years of his life behind bars, "said Ilona Zinkovskaya, senior assistant prosecutor of the Oktyabrsky district of Minsk, 1st class lawyer. — Our prosecutor's office constantly pays attention to the prevention of drug addiction, especially among young people and in places of compact residence. Such measures are primarily of a preventive nature. It is important that everyone understands that drugs are not only criminal liability, but also ruined health, destiny and future.

A dog handler with a service dog inspected the living quarters. The dog named Thor carefully sniffed those places where narcotic substances could potentially be found. According to law enforcement officials, a dog's nose is the most unique tool that cannot be deceived. They explained that the dog is the only animal that can find the drug on the first scent trail: if you take a teaspoon of the substance and distribute it in the territory of two Olympic stadiums, the four-legged assistant will still detect it.

— In college, we are regularly told about the dangers of vaping and the dangers of drugs — both curators and management conduct conversations. But such sudden raids with law enforcement officers are extremely useful: they help to minimize violations in dormitories, "said Georgy Chernov, a college student. — And for prevention to work even harder, I think it would be great to give students the opportunity to hear stories from those who are already serving a sentence under Article 328. When broken fates are told not only by adults, but also by stumbled peers themselves, it makes the strongest impression.

According to the results of the inspection, no prohibited substances were found. Such events are held periodically, without warning. This is the second test this academic year.

Photo by Diana Shabala