Is Heroin legal in Albania?

Legal status

Controlled under the Criminal Code (Law No. 7895 of 1995, as amended) — manufacturing/selling/transport/keeping (Art 283) 5–10 years (7–15 complicity/repeat, 10–20 organizing/financing); trafficking import/export/transit (Art 283-a) 7–15 years (to 15+ organizing/financing); 'small dose' personal-use carve-out has NO statutory gram threshold (single dose, case-by-case per 2008 Supreme Court Decision 1); no death penalty (Council of Europe)

Consequences if caught

Heroin is controlled in Albania under the Criminal Code (Law No. 7895 of 1995, as amended; Arts 283/283-a/283-b/284). In Albania (Council of Europe member; no death penalty), drug offences fall under the Criminal Code (Law No. 7895 of 27 January 1995, as amended). Manufacturing, selling, transporting or keeping drugs (Art 283) draws 5–10 years, rising to 7–15 years in complicity or on repeat and 10–20 years for organizing, managing or financing. Trafficking — import, export or transit (Art 283-a) — draws 7–15 years, rising to 10–20 in complicity or on repeat and 15 years and above for organizing or financing. Facilitating intake or use by administering drugs (Art 283-b) draws 3–7 years. Cultivation of narcotic plants (Art 284) draws 3–7 years, rising to 5–10 in complicity or on repeat and 10–20 for organizing or financing. A 'small dose' personal-use carve-out exists under Art 283, but there is NO statutory gram threshold — the Supreme Court (Decision 1 of 27 March 2008) defined 'small quantity' as a single dose for that individual, decided case-by-case; in practice low-level users are still prosecuted under Art 283 (5-year minimums have been seen even for roughly 0.4–1.9 g). Personal possession may, in practice, be handled administratively under the Code of Misdemeanors Art 121 (a fine of about 10,000–50,000 ALL) — reported, not controlling.

If prescribed or medical

Not a prescribed traveller medicine in this form.

Documentation

In Albania (Council of Europe member; no death penalty), drug offences fall under the Criminal Code (Law No. 7895 of 27 January 1995, as amended). Manufacturing, selling, transporting or keeping drugs (Art 283) draws 5–10 years, rising to 7–15 years in complicity or on repeat and 10–20 years for organizing, managing or financing. Trafficking — import, export or transit (Art 283-a) — draws 7–15 years, rising to 10–20 in complicity or on repeat and 15 years and above for organizing or financing. Facilitating intake or use by administering drugs (Art 283-b) draws 3–7 years. Cultivation of narcotic plants (Art 284) draws 3–7 years, rising to 5–10 in complicity or on repeat and 10–20 for organizing or financing. A 'small dose' personal-use carve-out exists under Art 283, but there is NO statutory gram threshold — the Supreme Court (Decision 1 of 27 March 2008) defined 'small quantity' as a single dose for that individual, decided case-by-case; in practice low-level users are still prosecuted under Art 283 (5-year minimums have been seen even for roughly 0.4–1.9 g). Personal possession may, in practice, be handled administratively under the Code of Misdemeanors Art 121 (a fine of about 10,000–50,000 ALL) — reported, not controlling. Cannabis cultivation is prohibited (Law 88/2016, Art 9) except authorized medical cultivation; the Law 61/2023 medical-cannabis and CBD framework is export-only. Carry any controlled medicine with its prescription and confirm requirements with your embassy before travel.

Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Albania’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.