Albanian authorities bust smuggling efforts involving "cannabis cup noodles" & fake football grass
The drugs were brought into the country from the U.S. & Thailand—by mail, no less
Albanian authorities have cracked down on two drug trafficking networks smuggling cannabis from the United States and Thailand into Albania…through postal services.
The drugs—ingeniously camouflaged as football grass seeds and cup noodle packages—highlight the traffickers’ flair for creative concealment and their persistent efforts to dodge detection.
The Albanian Post, customs, and narcotics units came together to bring these smuggling efforts to light.
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In coordinated operations named Destination 1 and Destination 2, police arrested three suspects and declared three others wanted.
One network smuggled cannabis from the U.S., masquerading it as (real) football field grass seed. A 34-year-old suspect was apprehended in Elbasan, though his 24-year-old accomplice remains on the run.
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The other network imported cannabis from Thailand, cunningly hidden in cup noodle packages. In Tirana, two teens, aged 17 and 19, were arrested, while their 18-year-old counterparts are still at large.
The haul? Four kilos of high-THC cannabis worth €68,000 (US$70,800), 170 grams of cocaine, plus cash, cars, and phones.
For context, this isn’t your everyday backyard weed—it’s claimed to sell for €100 (US$104) per three grams, a price tag that rivals cocaine.
Via A2 News
Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.
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