Libya seizes nearly $1 million of hashish in east

BENGHAZI, Libya, Oct ‌12 (Reuters) - Libya's ​eastern-based ​authorities have seized about 400 kg of hashish worth around 6 million dinars ($934,000) ‌and arrested some suspects near the coastal ⁠city of Tobruk, officials said.

Libya has become a major ‌drug transit route as ‌gangs exploit the turmoil and conflict since 2011 when former ruler Muammar Gaddafi was toppled ​in a NATO-backed uprising.

The anti-drugs agency's information and documentation officer, Ahmed al-Mismari, told Reuters ⁠that Saturday's operation took place at a house in an agricultural ​area southeast of the city.

"The preliminary investigations revealed the shipment had been smuggled ​across the border with Egypt ‌and was intended for local marketing and distribution within the Libyan market," ⁠Mismari said.

The detainees, whose number was not confirmed, were from Libya and Egypt.

Pictures posted by the agency ⁠showed a large quantity of hashish wrapped in gold ​and black patterned packages marked with symbols including a horse and the year 2026.

Also on Saturday, a Libyan ‌National Army brigade seized more than 1.3 million narcotic pills after a firefight ‌with smugglers in the southeastern town of ⁠Kufra. Three soldiers were ‌injured, according to ​an army statement.

(Reporting by Ayman Werfalli; Writing by Ahmed Elumami; Editing by Andrew ‌Cawthorne)

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