Koco Kokedhima

The General Prosecutor's Office confirmed to BIRN that it has launched an investigation into Shkelqim Ganaj, chairman of Albania's High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets and Conflict of Interest, on suspicion of abuse of power.

Koço Kokedhima, a businessman and MP from the Socialist Party, had started a campaign - mainly through his newspaper Shekulli - calling for the legal cultivation of marijuana in Albania.

The country is considered a major supplier of marijuana for Western Europe and last year its police conducted two major operations, destroying scores of plantations and arresting dozens of people.

Police on Saturday arrested 60-year-old Cane, a member of Albania’s ruling Socialist Party, after a report was published by local media featuring a videotape of the activist purportedly discussing his proposition with the mother of the 14-year-old.