Police campaign to uproot cannabis in Albania

(5 Sep 2016) Albanian police have engaged in an intensive countrywide campaign to eradicate the cannabis sativa plant, for which the Western Balkan country was once considered a major European producer. In the last three years, police have destroyed millions of cannabis plants and seized tons of processed marijuana in collaboration with other neighbouring countries. Once a secluded communist country, post-communist Albania has become a major cannabis producer, prompting authorities to carry out regular eradication campaigns, backed by heavily armed police squads. Albania has one of the poorest populations in Europe and some Albanians consider planting cannabis as a living source, assisted by the domestic and international drug cartels. Albanian authorities began a crackdown two years ago, when police stormed the southern village of Lazarat with armored personnel carriers and came under automatic weapon and rocket fire from drug growers. This year drug producers have moved to high, mountainous and remote areas where they install guarding points. The government claims that the police operations against drug cultivation have lost the criminal gangs billions of euros. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: