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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996: ALBANIA
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
I. Summary
Albanian authorities are increasingly concerned about the rise in drug
production, trafficking, and use in Albania, although all remain
relatively low compared to neighboring countries. The end of the Cold
War has brought significant economic and commercial growth, along with
notable inroads by organized crime groups -- home-grown and foreign --
and a notable increase in cross-border narcotics traffic. While there
still is no evidence of significant domestic narcotics processing, everlarger
quantities of cannabis and opium poppy are cultivated for export.
Internal consumption of drugs, including hard drugs, is becoming a major
concern. A new penal code that went into effect in mid-1995 specifies
penalties for the production, cultivation, and sale of narcotics. The
Government of Albania (GOA) does not have a national drug control
strategy and interdiction efforts are hampered by an ineffective, underequipped
police, inadequate border controls, and widespread corruption.
Albania is not a party to the 1988 UN convention and, to meet convention
requirements, the government would need to increase significantly its
efforts to adopt tough antidrug legislation, establish an effective
enforcement apparatus, and develop demand reduction programs.
II. Status of Country
Albania's rapid free-market commercial development and weak border
controls are attracting drug smugglers to Albania as a conduit to reach
West European markets. Most of the drug traffic from eastern countries
via Bulgaria and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), passes
through Albania to Italy and Greece and is transshipped to northern
European markets. Drugs are also smuggled across the Adriatic to Italy
using small, fast boats. These smuggling operations are often
intermingled with a thriving trade in illegal migrants, arms, and
cigarettes. The of extensive fuel and commodities-smuggling networks
that developed to evade UN sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro are
likely to offer opportunities for drug traffickers.
Many Albanians, and ethnic Albanians from the Kosovo region of the
Former Yugoslav Republic (FRY) are heavily involved in the smuggling
operations and have connections to the drug trade in Switzerland and
Germany. The proximity to major European drug markets, connections
between Albanian and organized crime elements from Italy, Turkey, and
parts of the former Yugoslavia, are further facilitating the growth of
the drug trade in Albania.
Albanian authorities are increasingly concerned about drug production
and use -- particularly of heroin -- in Albania. Nevertheless,
authorities have not discovered any drug operations since the breakup of
a heroin laboratory on the Greek border in 1993.
Farmers and other landowners, now freed from the collectivist agrarian
economy of the past, are increasingly turning to marijuana and opium
poppy as cash crops, according to Albanian officials. Moreover,
cultivation is spreading from traditional growing areas in the South,
and seeds are now imported from Greece and Italy. The extent of such
cultivation, however, is unknown.
Albanian authorities report cases of money laundering, despite the
poorly developed banking system. Enforcement efforts and prosecution
are hampered by the lack of legislation, and by a corrupt and
inexperienced judiciary.
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 1995
Although there is growing recognition that Albania is confronting a
worsening drug situation, drug control is not a high priority for the
GOA. The GOA formed a committee to address the drug problems, but there
are no reports on its accomplishments. A new penal code that went into
effect in mid-1995 specifies penalties for the production, cultivation,
and sale of narcotics, but lacks the tools to bolster enforcement
operations, such as controlled deliveries and undercover operations.
The country's legal and judicial structures have failed to keep pace
with the new challenges posed by organized crime in areas such as money
laundering.
Efforts to interdict drugs remain limited by the lack of personnel and
paucity of other resources, although law enforcement authorities claim
to have manually eradicated 60,000 marijuana plants in 1995. An office
within the Ministry of Public Order has been established to coordinate
anti-drug law enforcement efforts. The previously separate financial and
customs police were merged into one organization. Despite these
efforts, however, there has been little change noted in enforcement
operations. The new customs police appear inefficient, and widespread
corruption reportedly continues unabated.
In 1995, Albania increased contacts with international law enforcement
cooperation with its neighbors, including a counter-narcotics
cooperation agreement with Italy. Other bilateral agreements provide
for nascent cooperative efforts to target money laundering.
Corruption. Police corruption, particularly at lower levels, remains
widespread. There were some unconfirmed reports in 1995 of high-level
efforts to protect indigenous organized crime groups and several customs
officers were arrested and prosecuted in the latter half of 1995 for
bribe-taking.
Agreements and Treaties. Albania is not a party to any of the three UN
drug conventions. Albania has bilateral agreements with several other
European nations, including most of its immediate neighbors, that
include counternarcotics and money-laundering provisions. A pre-World
war II extradition treaty with the United States is still in force.
Cultivation/Production. Law enforcement authorities report that
cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy is expanding and becoming more
organized. In the past cannabis was primarily grown in Southern
Albania; now, however, authorities indicate there is country-wide
cultivation. These officials also believe that seeds are now imported
to produce crops for export and planting methods are being improved.
Domestic Programs. A program for treating drug users has been
inaugurated, but authorities expect few referrals.
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs
Policy Initiatives and Bilateral Cooperation. In 1995, the USG
continued to urge increased attention by the GOA to the drug issue.
Efforts focused on identifying existing problems, possible areas for
assistance, and the need for the GOA to become a party to and implement
the UN drug conventions.
The Road Ahead. Drug trafficking through Albania is likely to
accelerate in 1996, increasing the opportunities for organized crime
involvement and money laundering. Over the next year the USG will
encourage the GOA to expand its drug control activities and to establish
the necessary legislative and institutional capabilities to support such
activities. The USG will fund training of Albanian police at the
International Law Enforcement Academy in 1996 in Budapest. During 1996,
the USG will focus on urging Albania to ratify and implement the UN
Conventions.
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