Government forms 22 tribunals to try major narcotics cases

The government has formed 22 Narcotics Crime Suppression Tribunals to hear drug-related cases involving offences punishable by at least five years in prison.

The Law and Justice Division issued a gazette notification on Thursday night (September 3), formally establishing the tribunals and defining their respective territorial jurisdictions.

The tribunals were formed under powers granted by the Narcotics Control Act, according to the notification.

All pending cases under the Act involving offences carrying a minimum sentence of five years will be transferred from existing courts to the newly formed tribunals within 60 days of the gazette’s issuance, in accordance with applicable laws and rules.

The trials of transferred cases will continue from the stage they had reached before being moved to the tribunals, the notification said.