Sardinia is the "greenest" region of Italy . However, ecology, environment and landscape have nothing to do with it. In fact, green is the one that identifies marijuana in the latest report released by the Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Services (DCSA) of the Department of Public Security , in view of the United Nations World Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which occurs on June 26.

In the 2023 report, which details last year's data on the activities of the State Police in the fight against drug trafficking, the island is the Italian territory that recorded the largest quantity of marijuana seized in 2022: 14,783 kilos, therefore nearly 15 tons . Numbers lower than the over 23,000 tonnes stolen from the drug dealing market in 2021, but still huge.

Not only that: Sardinia is also - together with Calabria and Sicily - the region where so-called outdoor production takes place most, i.e. cultivation in illegal "plantations" . The plants seized last year by the agents were 35,607 . Also in this case data down compared to 2021, but still eloquent.

At the national level, the DCSA report highlights, in 2022 there was an "absolute record" in cocaine seizures: more than 26 tons, with an increase of 22%. In Sardinia, the loads of "white powder" intercepted by the police amounted to 128 kg.

But Sardinia is at the top of the "ranking" also as regards the seizures of synthetic drugs : the island is in fact in sixth place among the regions, with almost 5 kg confiscated in twelve months .

As regards other illicit substances, the Island's State Police also seized 6 kilos of heroin and 137 kilos of hashish in one year.

Finally, at the regional level, there were 737 people reported to the judicial authority for drugs, while, again in 2022, there were 16 deaths related to drug abuse, the highest figure since 2020.

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