Spaniard Jailed in Albania Over a Hashish Cigarette: The Story of a Catalan Who Escaped Albanian Justice

 In a case that highlights serious concerns about justice and corruption in Albania, a young Catalan man found himself jailed and accused of drug trafficking after smoking a CBD cigarette—legal in Spain but treated as illegal under Albanian law. After waiting three months for a trial that never came, he decided to take matters into his own hands, escaping through the mountains of Montenegro to return home to Barcelona for Christmas.

 A male hand holding a cannabis-infused cigarette and a black background with buildings believed to be Tirana below, and a black Albanian flag painted on the hand

The ordeal began with what should have been an uneventful act: smoking a CBD cigarette in a park in Tirana, the Albanian capital. CBD, a type of cannabis without THC—the psychoactive component—is legally sold in Spain. However, Albanian law makes no distinction between CBD and other forms of marijuana. Despite showing proof of purchase and explaining the nature of the product, the young man was arrested by police and taken to a station, as local media say.

His nightmare deepened when he learned he was being charged with drug trafficking, a serious accusation that carries severe penalties in Albania. Without proper documentation and unfamiliar with the local legal system, he quickly realized the challenges he faced. According to his account, his lawyer suggested paying a €3,000 bribe to the prosecutor to secure his release, an option he and his family could not accept.

For three months, he remained in detention, waiting for a trial that was continuously delayed, allegedly due to obstruction by the prosecution. Exhausted by the stagnation and the corrupt system, he made a daring escape through the rugged mountains bordering Montenegro, eventually making his way back to Spain.

This story sheds light on the struggles faced by foreigners caught in Albania’s legal system and raises questions about the treatment of minor drug offenses and the prevalence of corruption. While he is now safe at home, the Catalan man's experience serves as a cautionary tale for travelers and a call for reform in the Albanian judiciary.