Florida Governor Urges Death for Drug Traffickers

Gov. Bob Martinez called Wednesday for the execution of drug dealers caught bringing large amounts of cocaine or opiates into Florida, regardless of whether the activity is linked to an actual death.

The proposal is part of a package that will boost spending on Florida’s drug war to $120 million, double the current amount.

“These are the merchants of death--death by drugs,” Martinez said. “They don’t deserve to simply sit in our prison system. They deserve to have their lives extinguished, like they’ve extinguished the lives of innocent people.”

The governor’s plan would apply the death penalty to anyone caught with more than 150 kilograms or cocaine or 30 kilograms of heroin or other opiates, regardless of whether the drugs are linked to a death. A kilogram is about 2.2 pounds.