SLOVAKS spend around Sk4.6 billion (€117.9 million) on illegal drugs per year according to an analysis carried out by the Spanish company ECO, the Hospodárske noviny daily wrote.
According to the project's consultant, Barbora Kuchárová, this is a very conservative estimate. She thinks that in reality the amount may be much higher.
Drug addicts, especially those addicted to heroin, spend more than Sk2 billion (€51.3 million) per year for drugs. Another Sk2 to 4 billion is the value given to goods stolen by drug users to finance their addiction.
However, Deputy PM Pál Csáky warned that Slovakia only spends Sk565 million (€14.5 million) on fighting illegal drugs.
According to the Slovak police vice-president, Jaroslav Spišiak, Albanian drug rings control the major part of the heroin transport trade from the Balkans up to Scandinavia.
Spišiak said that part of their profits is sent to Kosovo and Albania and they try to launder the rest of the money through establishments such as games rooms, pizza restaurants and betting agencies.