Madrid - Spanish police arrested 51 suspects in a crackdown on drug traffickers operating in seven Spanish regions and the French Basque country, police in the Spanish Basque region said Saturday.

The group was suspected of trafficking in hashish, ecstasy, cocaine and speed.

The arrests, made in an operation dubbed Buceador II, came after an investigation was launched in Spain's northern Guipuzkoa region in June last year.

The Spanish traffickers were said to have links to several French people in the Irun area who were also arrested.

Police said a total of 1.2 tonnes of hashish, 34.3 kilos (75 pounds) of speed, 12,500 ecstasy pills, 40,112 doses of cocaine, several boats and three handguns were seized.

Spanish media meanwhile reported a Dutchman suspected of running the methamphetamine drug business on the holiday island of Ibiza, best known for its nonstop summer parties, was arrested this week.

Police did not immediately confirm the reports.

The Diario de Mallorca website said the suspect, only identified as 44-year-old Tjalling V.K.V., alias Carlos, was detained Monday carrying 32,000 ecstasy pills and 12 kilos (26 pounds) of methamphetamine, better known as crystal, a highly addictive psychostimulant drug.

Investigators moved when two lorry drivers started hallucinating after eating chocolate which had been laced with the drug.

AFP / Expatica