It has been discovered that “Glina” and “Tepelena” water, “Coca Cola,” alcoholic beverages, etc., are in most cases filled with dirty water The Tax Police uncover Tirana’s biggest soft-drink fraud — pages 20–21 —

The discovery of a phantom factory producing counterfeits of some of the best-known drinks on the Albanian market, as well as internationally, is certainly to be welcomed, but it must be said that it was a delayed success. During these years of transition, among the various phenomena that have characterized this period, the so-called “pirate products” cannot go unmentioned. From the very beginning of private enterprise, this field developed rapidly and, before long, counterfeit products had taken over the Albanian market. As a result, up to the present moment, Albanians have not the slightest idea about the food products they consume. Specifically, for almost all products in this category, not only is there no safety feature to help distinguish originals from counterfeits, but the specialized state agencies have also proved incapable of stopping the “pirate industry,” which has led to the market being flooded with these products at an alarming rate. Among other things, the “inability” or “indifference” of the authorities and state agencies in fighting “pirate products” stems, to some extent, from the ever-present phenomenon of corruption. Even in cases when some small “fish” in this dirty business has been exposed, no action has been taken against it, and before long it has resumed its activities. Given the total absence of any kind of control over how “pirate goods” are produced, citizens are the first to pay for this “lack of vigilance” on the part of the competent authorities, with consequences for their health. For the sake of profit, illegal manufacturers often use raw materials or ingredients that are expired, as well as ones that have been denounced as dangerous in other countries. Specifically, no one is able to guarantee whether illegally produced goods contain poisons or even some kind of drug. The problem is that at our customs checkpoints, medical inspections are either absent or merely formal. But, on the other hand, the production of these surrogates, through unfair competition, also “kills” honest businesses. Specifically, it causes very great harm to manufacturers or traders who entered the business accepting that the rules of the game would be followed. In view of all this, it would have been good if yesterday’s Tax Police operation had not been a flash in the pan, but rather ongoing, systematic work, thanks to which the danger to people’s lives would be reduced, as would the risk of honest businesses being driven into the ground.

UÇK fighters arrive triumphantly in Gllogovac photo REUTERS Belgian cancer-causing meat: 5 tons of chicken seized The fear of infected meat that has alarmed all of Europe has reached Albania too. The Albanian government, having no means of testing carcinogenic products, has ordered the suspension of all livestock imports from Belgium p. 19