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EDITORIAL By Enkel Demi Sources from the Prosecutor’s Office have disclosed that most of the killings that have taken place in the area from the Croatian Embassy to the intersection at the Great Bridge on “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard were committed because of drug trafficking. It is also reported that drug trafficking has been taking place for some time in the former Blloku district and Rinia Park. The police seizure of 69 kilograms of drugs in a boutique near the Presidency of the Republic shows that central Tirana has become a regular hub for drug trafficking and use. According to reports, it is believed that the number of [text appears garbled] is drawing attention only in Tirana, without taking into account at any point what is happening in other Albanian urban centers. Vlora is the nightmare of the Italian police. It is mainly from there that all the “goods” coming to Albania from Turkey enter. Considerable quantities of drugs cross the seas by speedboat. It must be said that the Albanian police, and also the Guardia di Finanza, have had no success at all against the speedboats. The few migrants caught are not really the heart of Adriatic trafficking. Another point of entry for cocaine is Rinas. It is suspected that important mafiosi carry out [text appears garbled] Cyprus communicates extremely well with Montenegro by road, as well as across Lake Shkodra. “Goods” also enter Kosovo from the north, destined for Serbia. And, as can be seen, Albania is covered with trafficking routes, like criminal metastases. The result is high-profile murders, kidnappings, serious threats to life, and widespread drug use. Little by little, this country is turning into a small Colombia, where “cannabis sativa” is planted instead of stone. The police are still unable to find the remedy to stop this trafficking. For their part, the mafiosi are cooperating without any prejudice with Italians, Serbs, Turks, Greeks, Montenegrins, and so on. At this point, the Albanian state is utterly incapable when compared with its own mafiosi. Drug trafficking has been taking place in the Blloku and “Rinia” Park for some time. Tirana has routinely become a site for drug trafficking and use. According to reports, the number of drug users in Tirana alone is believed to have exceeded 15,000. The figure is alarming. It is believed that 23 people, aged between 21 and 29, have been eliminated by just two drug-trafficking gangs in Tirana. Up to now, we have focused— ... with Skar. It must be said that the Albanian police, as well as against the speedboats. The few undocumented migrants apprehended are not really at the heart of the trafficking across the Adriatic. Another point is Rinas[i?] for cocaine. It is suspected that important mafia figures carry out this trafficking in cooperation with senior politicians, who have diplomatic protection at customs posts. Berat is a good area where goods are gathered and distributed. Greece is targeted by traffickers from this region. The North of Sh-

The Prime Minister turns a blind eye. Photo: Armand Babani

There is no time to equip citizens with electronic cards Nothing will change in the way the autumn local elections are held. Albanians will vote without voter cards, even though work on producing them began some time ago and the funds have now been allocated, as has even their design. At an “interpellation” held yesterday before members of the two parliamentary committees, UNDP experts stated that the time available makes it impossible to equip all Albanian citizens with voter cards. Page 5

The Albanian lek outside the control of the banking system Money is increasingly outside the banking system every day. According to official statistics provided by the Bank of Albania, the currency circulating outside banks in Albania has seen an annual increase of around 22 percent. The circulation of money outside banks has long been one of the greatest concerns of our monetary system, as well as one of the main causes of the many disruptions observed in the economy. Page 14

Republicans launch draft laws in Parliament The war declared on property and property owners in Albania was one of the fiercest that could ever have been waged in the phenomenon now known as “genocide.” The mass expropriations carried out by the dictatorship system aimed to eliminate the economic base Page 4

REPUBLIKA, it won’t cost 24 pages only 20 lekë

“Republika” continues publishing the lists Pages 12, 13

Albania, the poorest country, with the most expensive tourism Page 11

Accidents / Albania is awash with blood Page 8

An hour after the examination, police on alert Page 6

The doors of cultural institutions close Page 15