Rabat: Police officers thwarted Sunday in Oued Zem, central Morocco, an attempt to traffic 3.85 tons of cannabis resin, arresting four individuals allegedly connected to an international drug and psychotropic trafficking network.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the suspects, aged between 23 and 35, were caught red-handed transporting the drug haul in two utility vehicles during coordinated police operations near Oued Zem.

Armed with bladed weapons, the suspects refused to comply and put up fierce resistance before officers managed to subdue them and seize the massive cannabis shipment. Due to the violent confrontation, one officer had to resort to using his service weapon and fired a warning shot, which helped neutralize the threat. A search of the vehicles then led to the seizure of several bundles of cannabis resin, bladed weapons, and fake license plates.

A check against the National Security database revealed that two of the suspects were already wanted for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking and violent offenses, with arrest warrants to their names. The suspects were placed in custody pending a judicial investigation under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor’s office, in order to uncover any potential links to this criminal activity and to apprehend additional accomplices.