Observational study on seizures of marijuana, cocaine and crack in a city in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte

Abstract

It is estimated that 275 million people in the world between 15 and 64 years old used drugs of abuse in 2020. In the same year, the Brazilian Federal Police seized about 546,439.57 kg of marijuana and 91,234.87 kg of cocaine, demonstrating that the use and abuse of psychoactive substances are on the rise in everyday life. This study aimed to describe the profile of seizures of marijuana, cocaine and crack, carried out by the Civil Police, in the region of Betim in the state of Minas Gerais. This is a descriptive observational study, carried out on a documentary basis, in the years 2017 and 2018. The information was collected through the analysis of the final reports issued by the Betim Police Department, and the Social Defense Event Records (REDS). The results demonstrate that 568 definitive reports and REDS were analyzed, and the sociodemographic profile of the individual apprehended in connection with illicit drugs is composed mainly of men (86.4%), single (86.6%), with incomplete elementary education (33.2%), with a median age of 20 years. The 24 hour Police Station (88%) and the north region Police Station (22.7%) were where the largest seizures took place; illicit drug trafficking (85.6%) was the main crime related to these seizures, and marijuana was the most seized drug (51.1%). Knowledge of the profile of drug seizures in this region allows for the creation of prevention measures for the trafficking and use of illicit drugs, contributing to the improvement of public health and safety.