Sofia (Bulgaria), Feb 22 (IANS): Police have seized 1.4 tonnes of cocaine in France in a joint international operation with the participation of Bulgaria, officials said Friday.

The drugs were seized Thursday night in a lorry on a ship carrying cars and equipment for the Dakar Rally, Xinhua quoted Svetlozar Lazarov, secretary general of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior, telling in a joint press conference with the French ambassador to Bulgaria Xavier Lapeyre de Cabanes.

The ship travelled from Chile to France, Lazarov said, adding that the cocaine, made in Bolivia, was split into five-kg packs and hidden in spare tires.

Police arrested several traffickers and Bulgarians had a leading role in this international drug channel, Lazarov said, adding that the drug trail was revealed thanks to the information submitted and treated by the Bulgarian police.

The French ambassador described it as one of the biggest drug busts in France.