Shkodra police discover large cannabis plantations in the highlands of this region, locating in three of the areas a total of over 7,600 narcotic plants and seedlings, which were destroyed during the operation codenamed Coordination.
Two people, including family members, were arrested, while investigations are underway for others involved in the criminal activity. Those arrested in the village of Rogam are Angjelin Ripaj and Kujtim Ripaj.
Three village elders were also charged, while in one of the cases an illegal electricity connection was discovered.
Local police said that the actions were carried out in Malësia e Madhe, Kastrat Unit, Postribë and Shllak i Vau i Dejës.
Shkodra Police Announcement:
"The police operation codenamed "Coordination" continues against the cultivation of narcotic plants. They were caught red-handed, in the plot where they had cultivated 1299 narcotic plants and 1000 seedlings, in the village of Rogam, and 2 citizens were arrested. Also, 3 village heads were criminally prosecuted for abuse of office.
The services of the Shkodra Local Police Directorate and subordinate police stations continue to conduct intensive checks throughout the territory of the district, following the police operation codenamed "Coordinates", with the aim of cracking down on cases of cultivation of narcotic plants.
In the territory of the Kelmend administrative unit, the services of the Malësi e Madhe Police Commissariat found and destroyed 1726 plants and 1000 suspected narcotic seedlings, of the Cannabis Sativa variety. Also, by the Narcotics Investigation Sector at the Shkodër DVP, citizens AR, 35 years old, and KR, 42 years old, residents of the Kastrat Administrative Unit, who are relatives of each other, were caught red-handed in a plot. They were caught red-handed after, near their homes, they had cultivated 7 plots with 1299 plants and 1000 seedlings. These citizens were arrested for the criminal offense of “Cultivation of narcotic plants”. Also, near the apartment of citizen KR, an illegal electricity connection was found.
In the territory of the administrative units of Gur i Zi and Postribë, the services of the Shkodra Police Commissariat found and destroyed 2713 suspected narcotic plants, of the Cannabis Sativa variety. Following the procedural actions, the materials were referred to the Prosecutor's Office, where proceedings were initiated in the absence of the mayor of the village of Vilz, citizen FL; for the mayor of the village of Ura e Shtrenjtë, citizen RM; and for the mayor of the village of Domen, citizen RB.
In the territory of the administrative unit Shllak, the services of the Vau i Dejës Police Commissariat found and destroyed 2592 suspected narcotic plants, of the Cannabis Sativa type.
Work continues to identify, capture and bring to criminal responsibility the perpetrators of the cultivation of narcotic plants.
The anti-cannabis operation codenamed "Coordinates" continues throughout the territory of the Shkodër region.