The Moldovan police on Friday announced that five men were arrested for alleged smuggling of 100 kg of hashish.

This is the largest quantity of hashish ever seized in the country, according to the police.

The criminal group transported the hashish from Spain to Moldova and planned to sell the drugs in Moldova and Russia, the head of the General Police Inspectorate Ion Bodrug told a press conference in Chisinau, capital of Moldova.

The drugs were hidden in containers with detergent and were transported to Moldova by a route minibus with trailer.

One kilogram of hashish was bought for 700 euros (798 US dollars) in Spain, and was to be sold in Moldova for 1,700 euros (1,938 dollars), while in Russia for 2,700 euros (3,078 dollars).

The five suspects, arrested on Tuesday, are aged between 27 and 59 and two of them have been previously sentenced for keeping and selling drugs. Measures are also being taken to identify other persons possibly involved in the illegal scheme.

The suspects, if found guilty, will serve 7 to 15 years in jail.