RABAT, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Morocco, a big cannabis-producing nation, has recently destroyed 2,736 hectares of cannabis in the northern region of Taounate, 250 km east of Rabat, local MAP news agency reported on Tuesday.

    Quoting local authorities, the report said two tons of the drug, locally known as chira, were seized in the house of a rural commune representative in this region, notorious for its vast cannabis-growing lands.

    Authorities also seized two electric engines used for irrigating cannabis-growing lands, it added.

    The operation started in early May and lasted till Aug. 24, the report said.

    A budget of 1.89 million dirhams (245,000 U.S. dollars) was earmarked for the operation to round up 15 wanted farmers, and for confiscating the irrigation equipment.

    Morocco's northern mountainous areas are notorious for wide-scale cannabis cultivation for the European market, which places the north African country on top of the world's cannabis providers.

    Since 2005, authorities have launched an unprecedented campaign to fight against cannabis growing, and managed to declare a number of regions as cannabis-free provinces.