Albania cops seize 800kg of marijuana

(ANSA) - Tirana, November 11 - Albanian police have seized over 800 kg of marijuana destined for Italy, sources said Wednesday.
    The seizure was carried out on the beach at Valona approximately 150 km soith of the capital Tirana.
    Police officers initially found a small quantity of marijuana hidden in a van before sighting a rubber dinghy pulling out to sea. Albanian and Italian police chased the vessel, which was subsequently found abandoned on Valona beach together with five bags containing the drug wrapped in small packages. Van owner Alban Koshi, 48, was arrested and police are now searching for the owner of the dinghy, Robert Myftari, 42.
    Over 1.7 tonnes of marijuana destined for Italy were seized in Albania in two separate operations in October. Albanian authorities identified more than 44 hectares of marijuana plantations over the summer with the assistance of special Italian finance police reconnaissance flights. Over 700,000 plants were destroyed.