The Big Unknown: Who Grows Cannabis in Albania?—a Case-based Approach to the Cannabis Farmers in Albania. Issue 1 (28th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Llatja, Adela
• Is Part Of: Journal of illicit economies and development. Volume 4:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 71
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2022-09-28
• Subjects: Cannabis -- illicit drug crop cultivation -- organized crime -- cannabis grower -- Albania -- Western Balkans -- development; Informal sector (Economics) -- Periodicals; Black market -- Periodicals; Corruption -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Periodicals; 338.9
• DOI: 10.31389/jied.103
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2516-7227

Abstract

This paper used publicly available data, such as the analysis of 103 court cases to make a profile of those convicted for cannabis cultivation in Albania. There are multiple reports on drugs and organized crime in Albania which provide information on the seizures of illicit substances, law enforcement operations and organized criminal groups. Reports position Albanian organized crime groups in the international drug market. However, there is little or no data on who the actual producers are. There are no household studies or crop monitoring surveys for Albania, resulting in a big data gap around drug crop cultivation. Despite the availability of public data on the prosecution of drug-related crimes, there is no sound analysis and profiling of cannabis growers, such as their educational level, employment status, income level, gender or living conditions. Where does illicit cannabis cultivation take place, indoors or outdoors, and to what extent? Is cultivation taking place in privately owned or public fields? How big is the area of land where cannabis is cultivated, and with how many plants? The purpose of this paper is to identify the cannabis hotspots of Albania and the profile of those who illicitly cultivated cannabis between 2010–2020, taking into account their age, gender, civil status, educational level, income level etc. and conditions under which they cultivate. In order to understand the drug cultivation in Albania, a historical snapshot will be presented. For this paper, all publicly available data was used, together with analyses of 103 court cases, to gain a better understanding of the profile of those who cultivate cannabis, making this research unique for Albania. This paper presents new evidence for policy makers to address the root causes of illicit cultivation of cannabis in Albania. This paper reconfirms the thesis that those involved in drug crop cultivation are driven by economic factors, lack of market access, lack of education and lack of access to social services.