TIRANA - Policija je u ponedjeljak upala na plantažu marihuane u albanskom selu Lazaratu, ispalivši nekoliko hitaca prema mještanima koji su uzvratili protutenkovskim granatama i teškim strojnicama, no u pucnjavi nije bilo ranjenih.
Selo Lazarat nalazi se oko 150 km južno od Tirane, a njegovi mještani policiji su otprije poznati po uzgoju kanabisa. Albanska policija dugo nije zalazila u ovu regiju zbog opasnosti od dobro organiziranih narko-banda koje plantaže marihuane ondje imaju još od pada komunizma.
An Albanian police officer pats down a driver as they perform checks on cars in the village of Lazarat, south of the Albanian capital Tirana, on June 16, 2014. Suspected drug traffickers fired heavy machine guns and rocket propelled grenades on June 16 at Albanian police attempting to enter a village renowned for its mass cannabis production, authorities said. Police said at least 500 officers tried to access Lazarat, 240 kilometres (150 miles) south of Tirana, in order to destroy the village's drug stockpile. The force came under heavy arms fire, including anti-tank rockets, it said. According to Italian police the village produces 900 tonnes of cannabis each year worth some 4.5 billion euros (.1 billion) -- equivalent to almost half of Albania's gross domestic product. AFP PHOTO / GENT SHKULLAKU
Operacija je krenula pošto je u subotu pucano na policiju koja je pokrenula prvu ozbiljnu sigurnosnu akciju protiv uzgajivača marihuane nakon 20 godina. Nakon višesatne pucnjave koja je počela u zoru, policija je zauzela zgradu iz koje je na nju pucano još od subote, no zasad nitko nije uhićen ni priveden. Selo se nalazi na samoj grčkoj granici.
Albanian police forces man a road near the lawless marijuana-growing of Lazarat, south of the capital Tirana on June 16, 2014. Suspected drug traffickers fired heavy machine guns and rocket propelled grenades on June 16 at Albanian police attempting to enter a village renowned for its mass cannabis production, authorities said. Police said at least 500 officers tried to access Lazarat, 240 kilometres (150 miles) south of Tirana, in order to destroy the village's drug stockpile. The force came under heavy arms fire, including anti-tank rockets, it said. According to Italian police the village produces 900 tonnes of cannabis each year worth some 4.5 billion euros (.1 billion) -- equivalent to almost half of Albania's gross domestic product. AFP PHOTO / STRINGER
"Odlučni smo u namjeri da ovdje dovedemo pravdu i zakon", rekao je novinarima u Tirani albanski ministar unutarnjih poslova Saimir Tahiri.
"Pozivam sve koji su u Lazaratu upotrijebili oružje protiv pripadnika snaga reda da ga odbace i puste policiju da obavi svoj posao. U suprotnom ćemo morati djelovati kao nikad dosad", upozorio je.
Albanian police officers perform checks on cars in the village of Lazarat, south of the Albanian capital Tirana, on June 16, 2014. Suspected drug traffickers fired heavy machine guns and rocket propelled grenades on June 16 at Albanian police attempting to enter a village renowned for its mass cannabis production, authorities said. Police said at least 500 officers tried to access Lazarat, 240 kilometres (150 miles) south of Tirana, in order to destroy the village's drug stockpile. The force came under heavy arms fire, including anti-tank rockets, it said. According to Italian police the village produces 900 tonnes of cannabis each year worth some 4.5 billion euros (.1 billion) -- equivalent to almost half of Albania's gross domestic product. AFP PHOTO / GENT SHKULLAKU
U Lazaratu je na plantažama marihuane zaposleno više tisuća radnika, a izvan kontrole vlasti su već dvadeset godina. Seoski načelnik Dasho Aliko sumještane je pozvao da ostanu u kućama te za pucnjavu i nevolje okrivio mali broj "loših momaka". "Neoprostivo je da dio manji mjesta prlja obraz cijelome selu", rekao je za lokalnu televiziju.