Police in southern Albania dismantled a suspected drug trafficking network involved in marijuana smuggling to Greece, arresting six individuals and issuing warrants for five others.
Albanian authorities report that the suspects organized an extensive operation moving unprocessed marijuana across the Greek border and arranging illegal border crossings for migrants. Police in Gjirokastra led the year-long investigation, working across multiple Albanian regions in cooperation with the Gjirokastra Prosecutor’s Office.
Significant Seizures and Network Activity
During the investigation, police confiscated substantial cash, ammunition, mobile devices, vehicles, and counterfeit documents. According to the police, members of the network—hailing from Albanian cities like Kukës, Elbasan, Tepelena, and Gjirokastra—played central roles in both the marijuana trafficking scheme and the smuggling of migrants.
Albania’s Role in Greek Drug Market
Albania has long been a primary supplier of marijuana for Greece, although recent anti-drug initiatives have shown some effect. Greek anti-narcotics data indicate that in 2023, around 18% of unprocessed marijuana in Greece originated in Albania. However, 72% of the total marijuana seized in Greece last year was of unknown origin, often found near the Greek-Albanian border and suspected to be smuggled from Albania.
While 2023 showed a reduction in Albanian-sourced marijuana compared to 2022, when around 40% of marijuana seized in Greece was linked to Albania, these networks remain active in Greece’s distribution channels.
Smuggling Routes and Key Arrests
Greek officials report that Albanian nationals accounted for 25% of individuals arrested for marijuana trafficking in Greece last year, while 63% were Greek citizens. Smugglers frequently use unsecured border routes near Albania and North Macedonia, carrying marijuana through forests and rugged, remote paths.
