Updated

Albanian police say they have destroyed a large drug network in the capital Tirana, arresting 30 people while five others remained at large.

A statement Wednesday said that following six months of investigation police arrested "organizers, coordinators and distributors of hard drugs," who had distributed drugs worth 900,000 euros ($960,000) in the last two years.

Police seized about one kilogram of heroin, 180 small packages of cocaine and a number of pistols, ammunition, cars and cell phones used by the ring members.

Post-communist Albania has become a major cannabis producer, prompting authorities to carry out regular eradication campaigns, backed by heavily armed police squads. In the past two years alone, they have destroyed 1.3 million cannabis plants and more than 100 tons of marijuana.