BBC: To survive in the north, businesses depend on relations with politicians

British media that also has bases in Serbia BBC has dedicated an article to the Western Balkans.

It speaks of organised crime, drug smuggling and northern Kosovo.

A report by the Global Initiative reveals that Kosovo's north is a crime scene.

But in general, the Western Balkans were seen as a place where crime is a disturbing phenomenon.

This report is created by civil society participants who are concerned about non-civil society in the Balkans.”, said “Global Initiative Director Mark Shaw.

Drug smuggling through weapons in humans

The position of the Western Balkans makes this region attractive for smuggling drugs, weapons and people, the report said.

The “Rajon is located among the largest producers of the opium world in Afghanistan and the largest heroin market, which is Western Europe. ”

Experts say the so-called “Balkan Route” is best known for smuggling heroin from Afghanistan through Turkey, the Western Balkans into the European Union.

Albania is seen as the region's largest cannabis producer.

According to the report, the source of arms smuggling in the Balkans is due to the wars in the 1990s, riots in Albania in 1997, and the instability of northern Macedonia in 2001.

Kosovo's north was named “Crisis Triangle”. Experts noted that anyone who controls the money in this aid-based economy is very powerful. That's because industry is very little developed.

According to the report, for most people living in the north, it is much more convenient to provide access to public funds than to do business.

In the past four years, 14 vehicles were set on fire, and 23 explosive devices were thrown into private homes and local businesses.