[ad_1]
Albania is mentioned as one of the world’s leading cannabis growers in the latest 2022 World Drug Report, a publication of UNODC, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
According to the report, Albania is the seventh in the world among the most mentioned countries for the origin, launch and transit of cannabis for the period 2016-2019, (out of 154 countries in total) after Morocco, Afghanistan, Spain. Netherlands, Pakistan and Lebanon (see chart).
The report states that cannabis is produced illegally in every region of the world. Cannabis cultivation was reported either through direct indicators (such as the cultivation or destruction of plants, or the destruction of planted fields) or indirect indicators (plant seizures, reports on the origin of seized cannabis) from at least 154 countries for the period 2010–2020 .
According to the report, Albania ranks first in the region of Southeast Europe in the analysis of some indicators for the period 2010–2020, which suggest countries that have a significant cannabis cultivation, which (a) is exported or (b) produced for the cultivation of internal. After Albania are Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria.
Albania is also mentioned in the so-called Balkan route for heroin, which starts from Pakistan, passes through Syria, Turkey, Greece, Albania and ends in Western European countries.
Another report, recently published by the European Center for Drug Monitoring (EMCDDA) about a month ago, found that Albanian criminal groups, since 2017, have not only expanded, but also become more sophisticated, controlling both imports and and the distribution of cocaine from Latin American countries to European markets.
“For years, international cocaine importers worked separately from wholesalers and gangs distributing drugs on the streets. However, an Albanian-speaking criminal network abandoned this model and established control over imports and distribution. Using sophisticated coded means of communication, the Ecuador-based leader of the organization negotiated directly with South American drug cartels, organized large shipments of cocaine to major European ports, and, with the help of Italian-based associates, The Netherlands and Albania also organized distribution to consumers throughout Europe. Cocaine was smuggled across European borders hidden in vehicles equipped with hidden compartments. The criminals laundered their proceeds using an alternative underground remittance system of Chinese origin, known as the fei ch’ien system, similar to the hawala transfer system (Europol, 2020d).
Report: cannabis legalization has increased worldwide use
According to the UNODC report, the legalization of cannabis in parts of the world seems to have accelerated daily use and health-related impacts. The report also details record increases in cocaine production, the expansion of synthetic drugs into emerging markets, and persistent shortcomings in drug treatment mechanisms, particularly for women.
According to the report, about 284 million people aged 15-64 have used drugs worldwide in 2020, an increase of 26 percent compared to the previous decade. Young people are using more drugs, with levels of use that in many countries are higher than in the previous generation. In Africa and Latin America, people under the age of 35 represent the majority of people treated for drug use disorders.
Globally, the report estimates that 11.2 million people worldwide were injecting drugs. About half of that number had hepatitis C, 1.4 million had HIV and 1.2 million lived with both.
Reacting to these findings, UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly stated: “Numbers for the production and seizure of many illicit drugs are reaching record levels. At the same time, misconceptions about the magnitude of the problem and the damage associated with it are depriving people of care and treatment and pushing young people towards harmful behaviors. We need to devote the necessary resources and attention to addressing every aspect of the global drug problem, including providing evidence-based care to all those who need it, and we need to improve the knowledge base of how they relate to illegal drugs with other urgent challenges. , such as conflicts and environmental degradation. ”
The report further emphasizes the importance of urging the international community, governments, civil society and all stakeholders to take urgent action to protect people, including strengthening the prevention and treatment of drug use and combating illicit drug supply. ./Monitor.al
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
