ALGIERS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Algerian army troops busted more than 300 kg of cocaine hidden in 11 backpacks off the shore of Skikda province, 450 km eastern Algiers, Defense Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
"As part of the fight against smuggling and organized crime, a detachment of Navy Forces in Skikda province discovered late on Friday a huge quantity of cocaine estimated at 307.2 kg hidden in backpacks," noted the source.
"The operation is the second of its kind after Coast Guard in Oran province seized more than 700 kg of cocaine in May," the source said.
TSA news website on Friday quoted a security source as saying that the seized cocaine packs were abandoned offshore by unknown individuals.
Earlier in May, coastguards in Oran province, 500 km western Algiers, discovered 701 kg of cocaine on a cargo ferry.
Several people, including a businessman, were arrested over the case. They are under trial in the court of Algiers.
