Shkodra remains central to Albania's cannabis cultivation trends

Data from the Albanian State Police indicates a 23% decrease in the total number of cannabis plants destroyed between January and September 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Specifically, 157,632 plants were destroyed this year, down from 203,960 in the previous year.

However, there has been a massive surge in the seizure of cannabis seedlings at early stages of cultivation. The number of seedlings identified and destroyed rose to 131,544 by late September 2026, representing a 654% increase compared to the 17,447 seedlings recorded during the same period in 2025.

Shkodra remains the primary region for cannabis cultivation, accounting for more than three-quarters of all destroyed plants. In Shkodra, 120,222 plants were destroyed in the first nine months of 2026, a 14% increase over the previous year. Tirana follows with 21,577 plants destroyed, primarily in the Kruja mountains. Nationwide, police have identified 155 individuals involved in cultivation cases.