Albania is a significant source and transit route for drugs destined for European markets – says the US State Department

Washington DC | Tirana Echo – In its latest 2017 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), the US State Department notes that “Albania remains a significant source country for marijuana, as well as a transit route for cocaine and heroin destined for European markets”.

The latest findings from the US State Department come as a blow to Albania’s prime Minister Edi Rama who this month dismissed his Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri, over allegations of police involvement with drug cultivation and trafficking networks in the country.

While Albanian authorities reported an increase in arrests and destruction of cannabis plantations in 2016, there were also reports of increased cannabis cultivation within the country.

The report which is drafted for the US Congress, says that Albanian authorities continued regional cooperation with Italian Police surveillance units, and the number of drug surveillance flights increased from the previous year.

According to Albanian State Police (ASP), a total of 30.14 metric tons (MT) of marijuana was seized in 2016, and a total of 2,4536,288 cannabis plants were eradicated. Italian Guardia di Finanza surveillance flights identified 2,086 suspected cannabis plantations and also measured a fivefold increase in the overall level of cultivation. The ASP also seized 57.33 kilograms (kg) of heroin and 7.16 kg of cocaine. The ASP, including border police, arrested 1,349 people for offenses linked to drug trafficking during 2016. The Serious Crimes Prosecutors Office (SCPO) investigated 273 criminal proceedings for narcotics trafficking.

Of this total, 115 investigations were carried over from previous years while 158 investigations were initiated in 2016. In 2016 the SCPO sent 55 cases to court against 81 defendants.

The Serious Crimes Court rendered 65 guilty verdicts, to include verdicts in cases already pending in 2016.

The opposition democrats are demanding Rama’s resignation and have entered a parliamentary boycott and accuse the government of having profited financial benefits from the huge size of marijuana trafficking, in preparation for upcoming general elections in June 18.