MEXICAN SECURITY FORCES have seized 105 tonnes of marijuana in the largest ever bust in the state of Baja California.

Heavily armed troops and police raided several homes in the city of Tijuana, seizing drugs wrapped in 10,000 packages with an estimated street value of 4.2bn pesos (€247.1m). However, if the drugs were exported to the US or Europe, that value could be tripled.

The operation reportedly began after gangs opened fire on municipal police who were patrolling the area. During an exchange of fire, one officer and one suspect were injured.

The packages were found in houses and vehicles, and were wrapped in different coloured packaging – including one emblazoned with the image of of Homer Simpson.

General Alfonso Duarte told reporters:

The seizure of these drugs is without precedent in the country.

He said that, as the haul was still being weighed and counted, the value could be higher than first estimated. He added that the marijuana would be incinerated once all packages had been registered.

Troops arrested 11 suspected traffickers.

President Felipe Calderon launched a military-led campaign to destroy the power of drug cartels in Mexico, however the death toll over the past four years has risen to to nearly 30,000 people.

The value of the drug trade in Mexico is immense; the exportation of marijuana and home-grown heroin generates more than $10bn (€7.2bn)  for the cartels every year.