A Copenhagen neighborhood famous for cannabis attracts both tourists and hardened criminals. Now, a group of residents has risen up against the gangs.
From Sune Engel Rasmussen:
>For 50 years, Christiania, an anarchic, free-spirited commune in Denmark’s capital, has gained global fame for its open-air cannabis market, attracting visitors from across the world, along with hardened criminals and regular police crackdowns.
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>Now a group of residents has risen up against the gangs that have taken control of the trade, in a risky, clandestine operation aimed at shutting down the famed Pusher Street.
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>In recent years, organized criminals have pushed out most of Christiania’s residents from the lucrative cannabis trade, souring one of Northern Europe’s biggest tourist attractions and a symbol of Danish tolerance.
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>After a spate of increasingly violent incidents, including several killings, many residents have had enough. Before dawn on Tuesday, about 50 Christianites—as residents of the commune are called—gathered in the dead of night to watch the cranes they ordered use shipping containers and concrete walls to block off entrances into Pusher Street, hours before drug dealers would arrive to begin the day’s business.
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>“This action is taken in the hope of freeing Christiania from the tyranny of gangs and hard-core criminals,” the activists said, adding that they did so at great risk to their own safety. “We are ordinary people who have to go to work and pack lunchboxes for our children. The gangs are ready to use violence and kill people in order to protect their income and territories.”
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>The showdown between residents and drug dealers in Christiania is a consequence of a Danish, and European, drug market that is growing larger and more violent.
Finger crossed. When I went there I had all but the hippie vibes.
Government could end this overnight by just legalising and regulating the trade but they wont.
I am soooo not suprised that it’s Christiania, when I read the title.
I love Copenhagen but this area was an absolute shithole the last two times I visited
Friend visited just few weeks ago and said that it is nothing like it used to be. Much more aggressive and pushing, not welcoming and friendly. Did not like it at all anymore.
6 comments
A Copenhagen neighborhood famous for cannabis attracts both tourists and hardened criminals. Now, a group of residents has risen up against the gangs.
From Sune Engel Rasmussen:
>For 50 years, Christiania, an anarchic, free-spirited commune in Denmark’s capital, has gained global fame for its open-air cannabis market, attracting visitors from across the world, along with hardened criminals and regular police crackdowns.
>
>Now a group of residents has risen up against the gangs that have taken control of the trade, in a risky, clandestine operation aimed at shutting down the famed Pusher Street.
>
>In recent years, organized criminals have pushed out most of Christiania’s residents from the lucrative cannabis trade, souring one of Northern Europe’s biggest tourist attractions and a symbol of Danish tolerance.
>
>After a spate of increasingly violent incidents, including several killings, many residents have had enough. Before dawn on Tuesday, about 50 Christianites—as residents of the commune are called—gathered in the dead of night to watch the cranes they ordered use shipping containers and concrete walls to block off entrances into Pusher Street, hours before drug dealers would arrive to begin the day’s business.
>
>“This action is taken in the hope of freeing Christiania from the tyranny of gangs and hard-core criminals,” the activists said, adding that they did so at great risk to their own safety. “We are ordinary people who have to go to work and pack lunchboxes for our children. The gangs are ready to use violence and kill people in order to protect their income and territories.”
>
>The showdown between residents and drug dealers in Christiania is a consequence of a Danish, and European, drug market that is growing larger and more violent.
Read the full story for free here: [https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-famous-hippie-freetown-is-ganging-up-on-drug-criminals-6f630367?st=tzrkodqbvj8dy1p](https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-famous-hippie-freetown-is-ganging-up-on-drug-criminals-6f630367?st=tzrkodqbvj8dy1p)
Finger crossed. When I went there I had all but the hippie vibes.
Government could end this overnight by just legalising and regulating the trade but they wont.
I am soooo not suprised that it’s Christiania, when I read the title.
I love Copenhagen but this area was an absolute shithole the last two times I visited
Friend visited just few weeks ago and said that it is nothing like it used to be. Much more aggressive and pushing, not welcoming and friendly. Did not like it at all anymore.