Iniciativa Liberal proposes criminalizing fake drug sales in Portugal

The Iniciativa Liberal (IL) party has submitted a bill to the Portuguese Parliament seeking to criminalize the sale of fake drugs. The proposal suggests a prison sentence of up to one year for individuals who manufacture, sell, or possess imitations of narcotics or psychotropic substances with the intent to pass them off as authentic for illegitimate enrichment.

The legislative move follows a recent incident in downtown Lisbon where a Swedish tourist was struck by a stray bullet during a confrontation between groups involved in the sale of ‘louro prensado’ (pressed bay leaf). The IL argues that the current legal framework is insufficient, as authorities often treat these activities as mere unlicensed street vending rather than criminal acts, despite the growing frequency of the practice in Portuguese cities.

The Public Security Police (PSP) has also supported the criminalization of selling substances like pressed bay leaf, talcum powder, or plaster as fake drugs, noting that a legal vacuum has hindered law enforcement efforts against this phenomenon for over 20 years.