Portugal seizes 10 metric tons of hashish in Mediterranean

LISBON, Portugal – Portuguese police say they have seized about 10 metric tons (11 U.S. tons) of hashish from a vessel in the Mediterranean after a yearlong investigation that involved five European countries and two pan-European agencies.

A police statement says the Portuguese Navy and Air Force were involved in the operation, as were European Union police agency Europol and the Lisbon-based Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics, which includes seven EU countries.

The statement Thursday says the drug was in 333 bales and was being taken to a North African country from where it was to be distributed to other countries in Europe and elsewhere.

Two Portuguese men and four foreigners were arrested and were to be brought before a judge.

The operation included Spanish, French, Dutch and Greek authorities.