Italy seizes $34 million of drugs in Albanian boats

ROME, May 12 (Reuter) Police arrested eight Albanians on Monday on charges
of smuggling marijuana with a street value of some $34 million into Italy by
boat.

Police said they found the drugs when they intercepted at least six boats
bringing illegal immigants to Italy on the southeastern coast between the
towns of Brindisi and Lecce.

Nearly 580 kilos (1,300 lb) of the drug were seized on different vessels. A
further 126 Albanian illegal immigrants were detained in the operation and
were likely to be sent home.

More than 15,000 Albanians have crossed the Adriatic Sea to Italy since shady
Albanian investment schemes collapsed in March, sparking widespread violence
in the south of the Balkan country.

Italian customs police have seized some 3,000 kilos (6,600 lb) of drugs from
Albanian immigrant boats this year.

Italian investigators say Albania has rapidly become a prime site for the
cultivation and smuggling of marijuana.