Brazil seizes 115 tons of drugs

Updated: 2011-12-16 11:10

(Xinhua)

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RIO DE JANEIRO - More than 115 tons of drugs have been seized and some 4,200 traffickers detained in border operations by Brazil's military over the past six months, authorities said Thursday.

The Brazilian government launched the Strategic Borders Plan in June to crack down on drug and weapon trafficking along the borders.

"There was perfect cooperation between the federal and state governments' organs," Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer said, confirming that the border operations would continue next year.

Besides 99.5 tons of marijuana and 15.8 tons of cocaine, about 535 firearms, 473 million pharmaceutical drugs and 4.4 million cigarette packages were also seized, officials said.

The government had invested about 37 million reais ($19.9 million) in the plan, they added.

The plan, carried out in the country's 11 border states, includes two major permanent operations responsible for fighting criminal gangs and long-term border patrols respectively.

Brazil, sharing borders with 10 South American countries, has been plagued by drug smuggles as most of its borders are in forest or swamp areas difficult of access.