Albania Opposition Slates Drug-Busting Raid on Village

Albania's former Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, has urged the prosecutor’s office to investigate what he called excessive and illegal use of force by police in the village of Lazarat.  

“The police, in total breach of the law and regulations on the search of residences, overturn and break furniture, break through wall and throw residents, the sick, women and children outside their homes,” Berisha wrote on Facebook.

“I condemn the violence and terror against the civilian population and call on the state prosecutor to immediately launch an investigation on the maltreatment of the citizens of Lazarat,” he added.

More than 800 police officers are taking part in a massive operation against drug traffickers in Lazarat, which is known as Albania’s cannabis capital.

According to Italian financial police the village in the south of the country produced 900 metric tons of marijuana last year, for an estimated street value of €4.5 billion.

On Wednesday, police said that in the last three days they had destroyed more 70,000 cannabis plants, over 12 tons of marijuana, two drugs labs, weapons and ammunition.

One police officer and two shepherds were wounded on Tuesday as authorities tightened their grip on a village that has become synonymous with uncontrolled crime.

Berisha resigned as leader of of the centre-right Democratic Party after it lost the June 23 parliamentary elections. Although now he is now only an MP, many believe he still pulls the strings.

Other leaders of the Democratic Party have also slated the government crackdown on the lawless Lazarat. Former interior minister Flamur Noka dismissed the police operation as "a propaganda show".

On Wednesday, police came under sniper fire as they...