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Vienna police make 194 drug-related arrests as part of June crackdown

Xinhua, July 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

The police in the Austrian capital of Vienna have made 194 drug-related arrests so far in June as part of a large-scale crackdown introduced a month ago to tackle the rapidly-growing problem, Austria Press Agency reported Thursday.

Police spokesperson Patrick Maierhofer said the tightened controls that have been carried out in tandem with amendments to the Narcotic Substances Act have already had their intended effect, with a "massive decline in the number of drug dealers."

The amendments allow the police to take drug dealers into custody, which was reportedly of great benefit to the authorities particularly at drug hotspots in the city such as the Praterstern, and several stops along the U6 subway line.

Previously,the police had only been able to take dealers into custody upon multiple offences and if it could be proven that a certain amount of money had been earned from their sale each month.

Maierhofer said 146 of the suspects arrested have so far been sent to correctional facilities. The primary drugs being dealt have been cannabis, cocaine, and heroin.

He said that while the situation has eased noticeably, the police will continue to maintain the tougher controls and will be ready to move to other locations, should drug dealers do the same. Endit