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Morocco arrests 5 suspects linked to cannabis smuggling

Xinhua, April 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Moroccan police on Tuesday arrested five suspects linked to a foiled smuggling of over 6.3 tons of cannabis to Europe.

"Five other people, including international drug lords, were also arrested as part of investigations conducted by Moroccan authorities following the seizure of 6.3 tons of cannabis," Morocco's Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Morocco said on Sunday it aborted a smuggling operation consisting of 6.3 tons of cannabis heading to Europe.

The drugs were hidden deep inside a truck cargo container amongst frozen fish, Morocco's interior ministry said in a statement.

The network's leader was arrested along with six other people, the statement said, adding that investigations are ongoing in order to uncover further accomplices.

Morocco is one of the world's largest cannabis resin producers, also known as hashish, and consistently ranks amongst the world's biggest cannabis manufacturers.

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