3´800 kilos of drugs seized in Balearics

The Guardia Civil in the Balearics last year seized 3'838 kilos of drugs and arrested more than 400 persons for drug-related crimes, it was revealed yesterday, when the annual report was presented. The drugs comprised 3'820 kilos of hashish, 17 kilos of cocaine and 1.4 kilos of heroin. The Guardia Civil also intervened in 204 cases involving tobacco smuggling in the islands, confiscating 100'000 packets of cigarettes. It also launched three operations involving copyright, confiscating material valued at 85 million pesetas and arresting two persons. Guardia Civil operations throughout Spain netted 2'806 kilos of cocaine, 329'967 kilos of hashish and 269 kilos of opiates, mainly heroin, as well as 281'731 ecstasy pills. More than 6'700 arrests were made. There has been a considerable increase in the amount of ecstasy confiscated, figures rising from 39'575 pills in 1997 to 281'732 last year. There has also been a considerable increase in the amount of heroin seized from just 69 kilos in 1996.