Over the past three months Copenhagen police have confiscated 18 million kroner worth of drugs in and around the commune Christiania, according to DR News.
The haul is the result of efforts by the police's Task Force Pusher Street, which was created specifically to target the drug trade in Christiania. Since its creation this September, the unit has confiscated 354 kilogrammes of cannabis.
The justice minister, Morten Bødskov (Socialdemokraterne), said he was pleased by the results.
“It’s fantastic work and exactly the right strategy,” Bødskov told DR News. “We need to catch the masterminds and get cannabis out of Christiania. We should not accept organised criminals living a life of luxury. That’s why we need to continue the pressure, both on the masterminds and on the buyers.”
DR also reported that Task Force Pusher Street has charged 26 people for possession of weapons and 146 people for driving under influence of drugs.
Police have several times over the past decade attempted to eradicate the open cannabis trade in Christiania, though many argue their efforts backfired and only spread the trade throughout the city. And after a period of low visibility, the open cannabis trade was once again flourishing in Christiania.
Given the police’s lack of success at ending Christiania’s cannabis’ trade, Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen (Socialdemokraterne) has argued that the city should legalise the sale of the drug.
While the national government and Copenhagen's Swedish neighbours oppose Jensen's position, he has argued that it is the most effective way of reducing the two billion kroner a year annual trade in cannabis that ends up in the pockets of organised criminals.
The police’s recent campaign against the cannabis trade has involved stopping and searching individuals in and around Christiania as well as at the Christianshavn Metro station.
In response, a Facebook group has been started in which people can alert each other to the presence of police in and around Christiania.
