Seizures of cannabis -derived drugs have more than doubled compared to last year: both hashish (+ 113%) and marijuana (+ 135%), while there has been a reduction in the number of stolen plants (-27, 51%). After a decline in the last three years, the level of seizures reached 67.7 tons in 2021, just below the average of the last decade (about 77 tons).
This is what emerges from the annual report of the Central Directorate for Drug Services , according to which cannabis remains the most seized drug in our country, representing, alone, in the past year, over two thirds (67.7 tons) of all drugs. identified (91 tons) by the police, demonstrating a consistently high level of demand.
A share, equal to 20.9 tons of inflorescences and derivative products with a low thc content, contributes to this substantial volume of cannabis seizures. The overall quantities seized concern 20.8 tons of hashish and 46.8 tons of marijuana, the former mainly located in the north of the country (43.7%), the latter in the south and the islands (68.83%).
Alongside the narcotic coming from traditional places of import, the phenomenon of a " national outdoor production, especially in Sardinia " emerges, where the data are alarming to say the least: + 498% of marijuana and + 150.62% of plants compared to last year.
In addition, heroin seizures increased by 10.61% in Italy in 2021, equal to 567.52 kg.
In general, in 2021 the decrease in deaths from overdose is confirmed (293 deaths, -5%) which, in 2020, after three consecutive years of continuous growth, had shown a significant decrease (-65 deaths, in all 309) compared to to 2019.
(Unioneonline / vl)
