SANCAS PROJECT: Cooperation with Albanian Authorities aimed at countering illicit cannabis cultivation

The SANCAS project, funded by the EU and coordinated by the Department of Public Security - Central Direction of the Criminal Police, continues this year. Among other activities, the project includes overflight activities by means of aircraft of the Guardia di Finanza equipped with sensors for the identification and location of cannabis plantations in Albanian territory. These operational activities will be supported, on the one hand, by national funding and on the other hand they will take place under the aegis of the European project SANCAS - SUPPORT TO ANTI CANNABIS STRATEGY, which implements the consolidated Italian program - active for years -, and which in particular, it will make it possible to anticipate overflight activities from 5 April, extending them until October next. The kick off of the 2018 project will take place in Tirana tomorrow 28 March with an operational meeting between the authorities of that country, and representatives of the SCIP - International Police Cooperation Service of Criminalpol and the General Command of the Guardia di Finanza, underlining how in previous years , when the overflight activity was the result of the exclusive Italian-Albanian cooperation, significant results were obtained, both in the number of plantations identified and in the consequent eradications. In addition, several joint operations were carried out which resulted in substantial seizures of drugs carried out by the Albanian police; results appreciated and relaunched also by the European Union. Lastly, the important partnership contribution of the BENECON consortium, which designed the software used by Italian aircraft to identify plantations during overflights, is emphasized.

 

 

SANCAS PROJECT: Cooperation with Albanian Authorities aimed at countering illicit cannabis cultivation