Konitsa: Two Albanians arrested for illegally entering Greece to collect wild thyme

Two Albanian nationals were apprehended in Plikati, Konitsa, Greece, for illegally crossing the border and harvesting wild thyme. The arrests were made by border guards and drug enforcement officers.

Authorities confiscated 6.1 kilograms of wild thyme collected by the individuals. The confiscated herbs are to be handed over to the Konitsa Forestry Department.

While collecting wild thyme is not inherently illegal, Greek law strictly regulates the practice. A Royal Decree from 1963, along with current legislation, prohibits uprooting or completely cutting plants like wild thyme, oregano, and marjoram. Personal collection is permitted only during the flowering season (July-August) up to one kilogram, using scissors or a knife, and without removing all shoots to ensure regeneration.

Commercial collection requires approval from the local Forestry Department, involving an application and fee, with assurances that biodiversity and plant reproduction will be maintained. Previous arrests in the Greek-Albanian border region have involved individuals with commercial intentions, leading to the seizure of large quantities of the herb.