Albania increases anti-drug trafficking measures

Albania increases anti-drug trafficking measures

The government acts after an airplane carrying drugs crashed and reports surfaced of potential misuse of military airports by drug traffickers.

Large slabs of concrete that block the runways at three military airports are the latest tool to slow the flow of illegal drugs in Albania.

Authorities blocked the runways at military airports in Lezhe, Korca and Gjirokastra to keep drug smugglers from using the airfields, after a small airplane crashed May 10th at Divjaka beach, 80 kilometres southwest of Tirana, with 460 kilograms of marijuana. Police arrested two people, including the pilot, who are suspected of organising the drug shipment.

The government said it blocked the runways after receiving reports that one of the airports is used by drug traffickers. The prosecutor's office also started an investigation.

Police are focused on suppressing drug production and trafficking, and have confiscated 20 tonnes of cannabis in the last eight months, Florion Serjani, media adviser to Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri, told SETimes.

Albanian police have participated in 42 joint operations with six partner countries, resulting in the arrest of 52 international drug traffickers.

Serjani said the interior ministry is now drafting a law that will allow the authorities to confiscate land belonging to groups or individuals that cultivate cannabis.

But the opposition Democratic Party said the measures have been ineffective.

The opposition organised protests in front of parliament and the prime minister's office and demanded that Prime Minister Edi Rama resign. Rama, however, rejected the calls.

"Anti-drug trafficking measures entered a new stage and...