The Village that made $6 Billion a Year From a Plant (Albanian Mafia)
Albania is believed to be a major producer and exporter of illegal cannabis to Europe. There are several reasons why Albania has become a significant source of illegal cannabis in the region.
One reason is the favorable climate and fertile soil in Albania, which make it well-suited for cannabis cultivation. Additionally, Albania has a long history of cannabis production and has developed a sophisticated network for growing, processing, and distributing the drug.
Another reason for Albania's role in the illegal cannabis trade is the lack of effective law enforcement and the presence of organized crime groups that are involved in the production and distribution of the drug. Albania has struggled with high levels of corruption and a weak justice system, which have made it difficult to crack down on illegal cannabis production and trafficking.
Finally, the demand for cannabis in Europe and the high prices that the drug can command make it an attractive commodity for criminal groups looking to make a profit. As a result, illegal cannabis production and trafficking have become a significant problem in Albania and the country has become a major source of the drug in the region.
The Gentlemen Smugglers: Marijuana Outlaw Sailors of the 1970s
The Gentlemen Smugglers: Marijuana Outlaw Sailors of the 1970s
They shunned violence, enlisted their friends, and perfected the art of enjoying the scam. As the operation grew beyond the smuggler’s wildest dreams, the foot soldiers in President Reagan’s War on Drugs quietly set their sites on the outlaw sailors.
This isn’t a story of hit men, mobsters, cocaine cowboys or cartels. The Gentlemen Smugglers built a multi-million dollar marijuana smuggling empire over the course of a decade, living by their own moral code. The government saw marijuana as the gateway drug to an exploding crack cocaine problem. The Gentlemen Smugglers, and presently the majority of this country, couldn’t disagree more. With a zest for life and a healthy sense of humor, the smugglers rewrote the rulebook on marijuana trafficking. Based on the Wall Street Journal best selling book 'JACKPOT' by Jason Ryan. The Gentlemen Smugglers built a multi-million dollar marijuana empire over the course of a decade, living by their own moral code. They shunned violence, enlisted friends, and perfected the art of enjoying the scam. Most were from the south, and strangers to the lifestyle the smuggling operation suddenly afforded them. Some opted to hide the money and live quietly, but most did not. They lived large and enjoyed the fruits of their marijuana labor. But while the party raged down south, the foot soldiers in President Reagan’s War on Drugs quietly targeted The Gentlemen Smugglers in a task force they coined “Operation Jackpot.” The government saw marijuana as the gateway drug to an exploding crack cocaine epidemic and was determined to bring down the southern dealers. Meanwhile, the smugglers went about their business, following their own ethical standards, with a less fatalistic view of weed. Said Gentlemen Smuggler Kingpin Les Riley, “I only saw marijuana as a way of having a good time and getting hungry.”