Morocco talks after 500 million US dollar cocaine find

Drug experts from Europe and the United States met on July 8 in Rabat to follow the trail of six tons of pure cocaine which washed up on Morocco's Atlantic coast, a Western diplomat said.

Specialists estimate the drugs, the largest amount ever seen in Morocco, have a street value in the West of more than 500 million US dollars.

Initial investigations suggest the drugs were thrown overboard when a ship taking them to southern Europe broke down and missed a rendezvous with the vessel due to run them to the Portuguese-Spanish coast. Countries which sent experts to the meeting on the invitation of interior minister Driss Basri include France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Britain and United States, the diplomat said.

Morocco has shown itself particularly concerned in the past two years over drug trafficking which has focused largely on cannabis, much of it produced in the north of the African country.

Last month, the Moroccan interior ministry announced a draft law increasing the maximum jail term for drug traffickers to 30 years from 10 years.