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Drug crimes hit record high in 2025, surpassing cannabis peak in 2016

2026-04-27 22:06:36, Kronika CNA

Drug-related crimes reached a record high in 2025, according to data published by INSTAT. Last year, over 3,649 drug-related crimes were recorded, an increase of 27% compared to the previous year.

This is the highest level ever recorded, at least since 2015, when INSTAT published the data. In fact, drug crimes in 2025 were even higher than in 2016, when the previous record of 3,248 proceedings was recorded and coincided with the period when cannabis cultivation flourished in the country.

Drug trafficking, cultivation, etc. were ranked as the second most prevalent crime in the country, only behind traffic violations, which took first place with 6103, with a slight increase of 6.8%.
Intentional crimes against health were in third place, with an increase of 27%, followed by thefts, which were 22% higher.

There was also a strong increase in persecution, with almost 70%, or 392 cases. Corruption marked a decrease of 8.6%, to 255 cases.

According to Instat, in 2025, a total of 38,345 criminal offenses were recorded, 17.4% more than in 2024.

The number of suspected perpetrators of criminal offenses in 2025 reached 45,334, an increase of 13.2%, compared to the previous year:

93.3% are male, while the most represented age group is 30-44 years old (36.2%);
The number of non-recidivist perpetrators is 39,027, 16.7% more, compared to 2024.
In 2025, 19,145 injured persons were registered, 7.8% more, compared to the previous year:

39.3% of them are victims of crimes against the person;
Victims of violence against women constitute 36.7% of the category of crimes against the person, mainly in sexual crimes, crimes against morality and dignity, as well as crimes against children, marriage and family.
The number of criminal proceedings registered in 2025 is 27,049, an increase of 8.5%, compared to the previous year:

Of the 24,491 completed criminal proceedings, 27.6% were dismissed, 27.8% were suspended and 42.5% were sent to court for trial.
In 2025, 14,356 defendants were registered, 9.0% more than the previous year:

Males constitute 94.0% of the total number of defendants.
The number of prisoners in institutions for the execution of criminal decisions is 4,503, 0.3% more, compared to 2024:

Men make up 98.4% of the total number of prisoners./Monitor.al

Drug crimes hit record high in 2025, surpassing cannabis peak in 2016