More than 16 tons of cannabis seized in Algeria in three months

Over 16 tonnes of cannabis resin were seized during the first three months of 2009, against four tons during the same period last year, said Monday the National Office against Drugs and addiction (ONLCDT).

•     A total of 16.45 tonnes of cannabis resin were seized by the authorities in the fight against drugs according to a figure of the first quarter of 2009, said Director General of ONLCDT, Abdelmalek Sayah, quoted by the APS agency.
  
      Anti-drug Services have questioned 3569 people including 22 foreigners of whom six Nigerians, five Malians three Liberians and a Tunisian.
  
      With an average of five tonnes of cannabis seizures per month, total seizures of 60 tons could be reached at the end of 2009, considered the end of March Algerian police in a statement.
  
      These estimates may be exceeded, with the discovery of five tons of this product hidden in containers at the port of Algiers on April 5, and then the interception a few days later of 2.6 tons on board a semi-rigid pneumatic near Aïn Temouchent (480 km west of Algiers).
  
      
  Ennaharonline / AFP