Several police officers dismissed over 12 tons of cannabis found in storage in southern Albania

Permet, Albania | Tirana Echo – Albanian state police have dismissed several people from the police department of Permet in southern Albania, after more than 10 tons of cannabis sativa dried plants were found on storage facility in the village of Pagri.

According to the Albanian State Police statement this morning, almost all senior police chiefs in the region of Permet have either been fired or placed under investigation. 3 police chiefs have been immediately dismissed and 5 others are now subject to disciplinary proceedings.

In addition, the police have arrested several residents and officials in the village of Pagri who are under suspicion of hiding information on the massive amount stored in their territory.

Police believe that almost 12 tons of cannabis sativa had been transported recently to the storage facility as only one month ago a routine police check showed the building was empty.

Albania’s public opinion has been invaded by stories of cannabis cultivation and trafficking,, with Italian Guardia di Finanza saying the amount of drugs coming from Albania has tripled in the last year alone.

Opposition leader Lulzim Basha accuses Prime Minister Edi Rama of turning a blind eye to the drug cultivation, adding that police chiefs are closely linked to drug barons and traffickers operating in the area. The opposition is currently demanding the PM’s resignation on grounds that drug money may be used by criminals to buy votes in upcoming elections planned for June 18.

The government denies these claims saying the police have seized much larger quantities than ever before, referring to opposition democrats’ time in power before 2013.

Rama dismissed his interior minister Saimir Tahiri last month who was under heavy accusation for cooperating with drug traffickers.

Last February, OSCE Ambassador to Tirana Bernd Borchardt said that €2bn Euros cannabis money may be circulated to buy MPs ahead of Albania’s upcoming general elections of June 18.

Experts have warned that the massive cultivation of cannabis sativa across Albania will have detrimental effects on the future of national agriculture production and will harm the economy of Albania, as this hugely profitable criminal activity is capturing massive land parcels, lures local workforce and may deregulate real estate and tourism sectors due to a rise in money laundering and tax evasion.