19 TONS OF CANNABIS SEIZED AT SEA

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) In one of the largest North Sea drug
interceptions ever, Dutch and British customs authorities seized 19 tons of
marijuana from a vessel off the Netherlands coast, local television
reported Friday.

The joint operation took place Thursday about 120 miles off the Dutch
seacoast, Dutch television said. Officials arrested 12 people including the
two ringleaders, a Dutchman and an Englishman.

Their identities were not released in line with Dutch police practice.

The cannabis shipment, with an estimated street value of $85 million, was
intercepted as it was being loaded from the vessel onto a smaller fishing
boat, reports said.

Authorities said there were indications the drugs came from North Africa
for sale in the Netherlands, Britain and other European countries. The
seizure came after a long period of surveillance.

Checked-by: Richard Lake