Huge marijuana loads seized in Albania, Italy

TIRANA, April 5 – Police in Italy and Albania have seized more than a ton of marijuana and arrested at least seven people, including three Albanians, in two coordinated operations, law enforcement officials in the two countries said last weekend.
The cannabis, believed to have been produced in Albania, was seized last week in southern Italy in a joint operation between the two countries’ police forces, according to Albania’s police chief, Hysni Burgaj.
The Italian police seized marijuana from Albania in Lece, while Albanian police seized it in the southern commune of Lazarat, totaling 1.2 tons.
Four people were also arrested in Albania in connection with the crime.
Burgaj said the Albanian police gave information about a motor boat, which was transporting marijuana from Albania to Italy.
Last month at least two tons of cannabis were seized in Albania, which is a “main supplier of marijuana in Europe,” according to the United Nations.
Local authorities say they have destroyed 70,000 to 100,000 plants every year, but some reports estimate that local production of cannabis could be as high as 100 to 150 tons per year.
Last month alone, Albanian police in close cooperation with other countries have seized 4.5 tons of marijuana, according to Burgaj.
He added Greek police also helped in the joint Albanian-Italian operations.
Burgaj said the police would not allow traffickers to block Albania’s future European prospects.
“A village or a municipality cannot keep the whole country and visa liberalization as its hostage,” Burgaj said Sunday during a speech near the village of Lazarat, urging local police chiefs to identify cultivation parcels and intervene.