The Committee on Public Security and the Fight against Organized Crime rejected, last Wednesday (2nd), bill No. 2541/07, proposed by the late Deputy Adão Pretto (PT-RS), which transfers the resources from the sale of property resulting from money-laundering crimes to the National Housing Fund (FNH). Currently these resources go to the National Treasury. The text also suggests that the Fund should receive half the revenue acquired in the auction of properties derived from drug trafficking.

The rapporteur of the proceedings, Deputy Pinto Itamaraty (PSDB-MA), recommended rejection recalling that, according to the Constitution, all property expropriated or seized due to illegal activities involving drugs already has a specific destination. The land where psychotropic drugs were cultivated, for example, must be designated for the settlement of colonists or the cultivation of food and medicinal products. Goods with economic value are confiscated and returned to the benefit of specialized institutions for the treatment and rehabilitation of addicts and equipping and funding activities of supervision, control, prevention and prosecution of the crime of trafficking of such substances.

Procedure
The bill, which has conclusive character, will now be considered by the Committee on Urban Development; the Committee Finances and Taxation (which will also make a statement on its merits), and the Committee on Constitution and Justice and Citizenship.

Reporting - Vania Alves / SR
Translation – Danielle Currlin