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Police seize nearly 6 tonnes of cannabis resin in Marseille

The drug bust, which followed months of investigation, found 5.6 tonnes in a villa in the southern port city and another 150kg in a nearby car.

La rédaction de Mediapart

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French police discovered nearly six tonnes of cannabis resin, known as hashish, in a villa in the southern city of Marseille and arrested three men, the interior ministry said on Monday, reports NEWS 24.

The drug bust came after months of investigation and is one of the biggest seizures of cannabis in France in recent years.

Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a statement that police had tracked the three men believed to be involved in a vast drug trafficking network to Marseille and the nearby town of Vitrolles on Sunday.

They found 5.6 tonnes of hashish in a villa and another 150kg of the drug in a car.

Cazeneuve, who will visit Marseille later on Monday, congratulated officers on their "major success".

In 2013, French customs officers seized 7.5 tons of cannabis in one day, with 5.5 tons found in a truck carrying courgettes and another two tonnes in a truck carrying oranges.

Read more of this AFP report from NEWS 24.