Mega police operation destroys thousands of cannabis plants
In a large operation dubbed “Clean Territory,” covering the districts of Lezhë and Shkodër in the north and Elbasan in central Albania, Albanian police forces destroyed more than 5,000 cannabis plants and seedlings, arrested several suspects, and are currently pursuing other potential collaborators.
Context
Cannabis production has been a significant issue for Albania since the early 1990s. For many years, production was dominated by the village of Lazarat in the south of the country, which gained notoriety as one of Europe’s largest illegal cannabis cultivation hubs, characterized by extensive plantations. Following a massive police crackdown on Lazarat in 2014, production moved into less accessible and sparsely inhabited areas of the country, spurred on by high demand and profitability.
However, persistent efforts by the Albanian government, in cooperation with international agencies and partners, have significantly transformed the situation in recent years. While production has not been completely eradicated, it has been dramatically curbed. Better monitoring of the territory, involving the use of technology such as drones and human resources, holding village chiefs and forestry workers accountable for failing to report cannabis cultivation, and targeting police officers and commanders in whose areas cultivation is found, are some of the key measures that are helping turn the tide in this war against cannabis cultivation. Nevertheless, as the latest operation shows, the fight continues, and the police cannot afford to let their guard down.
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