Sniff & Search

Jump to navigation Jump to search

"Sniff & Search" is a common nickname for a broad set of laws passed by local, provençial and later federal governments of Inyursta. Usually labeled as "proactive detection" or "distance-uncovered evidence" laws, these statutes are called sniff & search due to the common use of search dogs in anti-narcotics operations.

Origin

La Républiqua D'Inyursta has been embroiled in a war on drugs almost as long as it has been in existence. Cocaïne was and has remained the primary narcotic grown and shipped through Inyursta. Due to the nature of drug trafficking, large shipments of cocaïne never stay in one place for long. To make matters worse, many local judges in the 70's and 80's were either corrupt or had infiltrated offices, which could either block a warrant or give early warning of police action.

The first "Sniff and Search" law, PP-240B&C, was passed by the provençial government of Costa Arseilles to give police the ability to raid buildings and search vehicles and grounded aircraft without a warrant based upon a positive reaction from police dogs.

Implementation

Following the effectiveness of the 1990 law in Costa Arseilles, many other provençial and local governments began following suit. By 2000, most provinces and city governments had passed similar laws.

File:Police searchdog.jpg
An Inyurstan police officer and his search dog, many of which are used to search out drugs.

These laws aren credited with making a significant impact against the Juarez and Atlantic Cartels, both of which used boats and aircraft to move their illicit cargo - and both of which could subsequently be moved away in very short time. By allowing law enforcement to move quickly and often without warning, these procedures were able to cut off a significantly improved portion of cocaïne shipments and effectively arrest more smugglers and traffickers associated with the cartels.

Exact laws varied between jurisdiction, for example Costa Arseilles made it legal to search without a warrant, while Fjorda Grande allowed for vehicles and aircraft to be grounded while buildings could be cordoned off until a warrant could be obtained. Later federal legislation would make it legal for the ISD to operate under similar procedures.

Despite the name, "Sniff and Search" which refers mostly to the use of search dogs, recent stand-off infrared spectroscopy which has become widely used by better-funded departments is also grounds for such procedures.

Controversy

Unsurprisingly, such laws were and continue to be very controversial. Domestic opponents argue the warrant-less procedure is inherently unconstitutional, while foreign opponents use this as another way to portray Inyursta as a corrupt dictatorship. Supporters of the laws claim they are functionally no different than an officer witnessing a crime and taking action.

The 2014 information leaks by Jean-Paulo Lancorda found that several opponents of the federal-level "Sniff & Search" legislation, including Diego Rodrigues, Lanson Sãorules and Benoît Somoza, had taken money or other "donations" from individuals and firms associated with the Atlantic and Black Skulls cartels.

A 2015 law legalizing the licensed production and export of cocaïne has led to complicated debate over the status of these laws, however at the moment a large amount of cocaīne remains grounds for searching or detainment.