Algerian security services have seized more than 51 tonnes of cannabis over the eight first months of 2014, police chief, Major General Abdelghani Hamel, said Tuesday.
"We have noted over the past few years an increase in the quantity of drugs seized during our daily operations," Major General Hamel said at an opening address in a seminar on the fight against organized crime.
"Over the last eight months of 2014, more than 51 tonnes of cannabis have been seized by security services in various operations."
Seizures have also been made "during operations against smuggling of goods, especially fuel, foodstuffs and sheep, towards the neighbouring countries," he disclosed.
"Drug trafficking is one of the challenges facing Algeria, which is the neighbour of the world's leading producer of cannabis and is located near the major markets of illicit drugs, namely western Europe, eastern Maghreb and the Middle East."