Albanian police seize over 10 tonnes of marijuana

PanARMENIAN.Net - Albanian police have seized more than 10 tonnes of marijuana in a major operation against cannabis growers in the southern village of Lazarat, according to BBC News.

Police say some 800 officers were needed to bring most of the village under control by Wednesday evening. One officer and two civilians have been injured in gunfire exchange, they add.

Lazarat produces 900 tonnes of cannabis annually, worth some 4.5 bn euros ($6.1 bn) - equivalent to almost half of Albania's gross domestic product.

Police have besieged the village, some 230km (140 miles) south of the capital Tirana, since Monday. They were met with heavily armed men firing rocket-propelled grenades and mortar shells.

Smoke was seen rising above the village, with some eyewitnesses saying it was caused by locals burning marijuana plants before police closed in.

Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri told the AP that the operation would continue until "every square centimeter in Lazarat is under state control".

The operation comes as part of the new Socialist government's campaign to stamp out the marijuana economy in its bid to become part of the European Union.