Czech police seize large amount of crystal meth, break ring

PRAGUE: Czech police say they have broken a ring that was allegedly producing large amounts of methamphetamine for illegal sale in western Europe.

Police president Tomas Tuhy says a total of 13 suspects were arrested in the Czech Republic, 11 of them Vietnamese nationals. Six other people were arrested in neighboring Poland.

In raids, police seized a total of 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of the drug.

Jakub Frydrych, the head of the police's anti-drug unit said Tuesday the crystal meth produced by the group was mostly meant for Germany, the traditional market for Czech-made crystal meth, but also for the Czech Republic itself, western European countries and Australia.

He says the chemicals necessary for the production were smuggled from Turkey.