Rio Grande do Sul will use the assets to fight drugs trafficking Brazil

Rio Grande do Sul will use the assets to fight drugs trafficking Brazil

Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo, and the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Genro (PT), signed on Friday (20) a cooperation agreement that will allow the use of assets seized in operations against trafficking in future actions to combat drugs.
The measure provides that vehicles, money and property seized be passed to the police and authorities that work in combating and preventing drug even before there was a final conviction of the accused.
If they end up convicted, the state becomes the final owner. In case of acquittal, the suspect receives the good (or equivalent) back.
The measure is scheduled in the State System of Public Policies on Drugs, created by the state government and approved by the State Legislative Assembly in March.
"It's important that we treat public safety as a policy of integration, with operations of all entities of the federation," said Cardozo.
In last Friday (13), the state government got court authorization to put the program into practice.
In Santa Maria (286 km from Porto Alegre), were delivered to six civilian police cars that had been seized in the operation of the Federal Police in 2009. The vehicles will enhance the fleet in investigations and intelligence activities.
From now on, with the signing of the cooperation between the federal and state governments, the process of transfer of assets should earn agility, as the minister and the governor.
At the same ceremony, Rio Grande do Sul formalized its participation in the disarmament campaign in 2011. The state is second to join, after Rio de Janeiro.
At the end of the ceremony in a symbolic act, the justice minister and the governor used a sledgehammer to discard a gun delivered by a citizen to the Federal Police.
"In Brazil, there is still prejudice, an understanding that is carrying a weapon to defend himself. But suffice it to note that homicides dropped after launching campaigns for disarmament," said Cardozo.