Despite a police operation in 2004, which levelled Pusher Street in Christiania, and despite continued patrolling operations in the years after that, the hash trade in Christiania is back in full force, according to the Copenhagen police.

“The hash trade is now just as open as it was in 2004, and at the same level. Our guess is that sales are up at about a billion kroner each year,” Dep. Ch. Supt. Lau Thygesen of the Copenhagen Police Dept. for Organised Crime tells Berlingske.

His figures, which Aarhus University Drug Researcher Kim Møller says are realistic estimates, are based on police investigations which recently resulted in the seizure of 12 tons of hash.

“Given that there are revenues of upwards of a billion kroner each year, there is no doubt that the Hells Angels have an economic interest in maintaining control of the area. Our clear impression is that HA finances much of its business through the hash trade on Pusher Street,” Thygesen tells Berlingske.

Justice Minister Morten Bødskov says the situation is unacceptable.

“There is no doubt that Christiania has a serious problem with the hash trade and organised crime. The police have particular focus on the organisers, who are the Hells Angels and related gangs,” Bødskov tells Berlingske.

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