Morocco police foils smuggling of 17.4-ton cannabis

Moroccan authorities announced on Saturday that they have foiled in the coastal city of Agadir a smuggling operation of 17.4 tons of cannabis heading to Scandinavian countries.

The drugs were packed in bags to be transported by vessels on the high seas, local authorities said in a statement.

Moroccan security services arrested seven people, and seized 100,000 U.S. dollars in cash, two trucks, four cars, ships, arms and ammunition, the same source noted.

Last Sunday, Morocco said it had aborted a smuggling involving 6.3 tons of cannabis heading to Europe.

Morocco is one of the world's largest cannabis resin producers, also known as hashish.

The World Customs Authority reported that in 2013, 65 percent of the hashish seized by ­customs worldwide originated from Morocco, with most of it heading to Europe.

Source: XINHUA