Authorities continue fight on drugs

TIRANA, June 3 – Fighting drug traffic and production remain a top priority for Albania, say the country’s law enforcement authorities, which have undertaken several operations countrywide.
It’s the time of year when cannabis is planted and that has turned police eyes on that process. Almost every day police say they have destroyed hundreds or thousands of plants. In an operation in Kruja, police say they destroyed some 4,000 cannabis plants. The previous weekend they were in southern Kurvelesh area where some hundreds of police forces destroyed thousands of plants and also arrested six persons. They had fired on police when they saw them enter their land spots planted with cannabis.
Police are focused on suppressing drug production and trafficking, and have confiscated 20 tons of cannabis in the last four months. Police say they have also participated in 42 joint operations with six partner countries, resulting in the arrest of 52 international drug traffickers. Last weekend police in nearby Italy seized 1.3 tons of cannabis believed to have gone there from Albania. The interior ministry is also drafting a law that will allow the authorities to confiscate land belonging to groups or individuals that cultivate cannabis.
Albania is one of the most important hubs for the transit of drugs from Asia and Eastern Europe to Western Europe.
Police also opened two new stations in southern Albania, one in Dropull, Gjirokastra district and the other in Livadhja, Saranda district. That is close to the main area of cultivation of cannabis and also close to the land border with Greece or coast.