TIRANA, Sept. 12 – Police in the southwestern port city of Vlora have seized more than one ton of cannabis near the city’s seaport, but they failed to capture the people that were about to pick up the haul, local media reported.
The massive amount of marijuana was hidden inside a home very close to the sea port.
Police also seized six automatic weapons and three handguns.
Border police boats also chased a high speed boat believed to be heading to pick up the marijuana, but the suspects managed to escape, with authorities believing they were tipped off by a corrupt cop.
Vlora prosecutors and the State Police’s Internal Affairs and Complaints Service suspect are investigating all police officers involved in this particular operation, and at least one has been detained on suspicion of leaking information.
Local media reported police had been keeping the hiding place under surveillance for almost two weeks before they tried to arrest the group’s members and they still got away.
The police operation was done in co-operation with special crimes prosecutors and Italy’s Guardia Di Finanza.
