French authorities seize 7 tons of marijuana
At least 7 tons of marijuana have been seized in the French capital Paris.
The discovery was made late on Saturday and it was dubbed as the biggest such haul by French President Francois Hollande, who made the announcement.
The operation was launched by the National Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigations (DNRED).
The drugs were seized in three vans parked for over a week in a major boulevard in Paris, after a local notified police about the vehicles.
The seizure is the biggest France has seen "in a long time" and the largest ever in Paris, Hollande said during a televised speech outside the headquarters of the DNRED.
"I came here to congratulate the customs officials who were able, last night, after working for a long time, to seize more than seven tons of cannabis," said the president. "Behind these seized bags lie criminal organizations who have links with other organizations, including terrorists."
A customs official told AFP that no arrests had yet been made, but that a police investigation into the incident was ongoing and that "DNA and fingerprints found inside will be used".
An initial statement by police said that the cannabis came from Morocco and probably through Spain.
Cannabis or marijuana is the most popular drug in the European continent, with its consumption being on the rise particularly in France, where demand is estimated at around 300 tons a year, according to authorities.
In Europe, possession or consumption of cannabis represents more than 60 percent of all offenses linked to drugs.
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