MP of the Democratic Party (DP), Ervin Salianji reacted a day after the DASH report that described Albania as a source of cannabis and a local base for organized crime groups that move illegal drugs from their countries of origin to European markets.

In his statement, Salianji proclaimed that the government has handed over sovereignty and control in the territory to organized crime gangs.

Furthermore, he added that Albanian groups are estimated to have extended their presence in all links of traffic from purchasing, transport, distribution to the sales chain around the world.

“Albania is a cannabis source country and a local base for organized crime groups moving illicit drugs from their countries of origin to European markets.

Unfortunately for Albania this is the assessment in the US State Department Annual Report on the Strategy for Controlling International Narcotics Trafficking!

‘Albanian cannabis is sent to Turkey and exchanged for heroin and cocaine, which are smuggled across Europe by Albanian national traffickers, who" play a major role in international narcotics trafficking and organized crime networks’.

Albania is considered "a key element of the Balkan route of drug trafficking in Western Europe and the United Kingdom."

"Albanian organized crime groups are present in the United States, Great Britain and throughout Europe, as well as in South America, including Ecuador, Colombia and Peru."

Albanian groups are estimated to have extended their presence in all traffic links from purchasing, transportation, distribution to the sales chain worldwide.

We have warned and raised the constant concern that government cooperation with criminal groups would lead to crime and weaken the rule of law.

The US State Department report states that "relatively weak rule of law, corruption and high unemployment are the main drivers" of the drug phenomenon in Albania. "Violent crime in Albania is often linked to organized crime and judges, prosecutors, police and journalists have been subject to threats."

Practically the Albanian government has handed over sovereignty and control in the territory to organized crime gangs, unfortunately as they are used in elections to collect votes by threatening, intimidating and buying votes for the renaissance they are rewarded with appointments to key government posts, with control appointments in the administration and you are offered inviolability in their criminal activity!

The criminal activity goes further by laundering and dirty money "Albania remains unprotected against Money Laundering due to corruption, the presence of organized crime networks and gaps in legislation and oversight," says DASH.

Despite the strong alarm bells and the annual reactions of DASH, the Albanian government does not make any serious efforts to fight organized crime and corruption. Because for this government the interest of a handful of people prevails over the interest of the state and the citizens, for this government the production of dirty money for its organization is worth more than the daily desolation that is being done to Albania due to inequality, unemployment and poverty.

The Democratic Party appreciates the DASH report and we will make maximum efforts for the citizens to decide and not for crime, for politics to be the instrument of solution and not of creating problems. By the force of law we will suppress criminals and the corrupt

It is unfortunate that although the years pass, the assessment regarding Albania as a country of production and transit of narcotics, remains the same.

Edi Rama made Albania the most corrupt country in Europe. There is only one force that can fight for the good of the Albanians and not the drug barons, this force is the Democratic Party”, stated Salianji.