Brazil sees biggest drug haul in 22 years

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian federal police said Thursday that this year's marijuana and cocaine haul has been the biggest in the past 22 years.

According to the police, 324 tons of marijuana and 45 tons of cocaine were seized between January and Dec. 13.

Police attributed the success to more patrols, improvements in investigations, and more investments in technology that supported agents' efforts.

Most of the drugs came from abroad. The marijuana was mostly from Paraguay and cocaine from Bolivia, Colombia and Peru.

Border states registered the largest seizures. Sao Paulo, which has the largest port in Brazil, registered the biggest cocaine seizure in 2017 -- 16 tons out of the 45 tons confiscated so far.