The drugs and weapons were found in a vehicle following a clash on Sunday with Algerian frontier guards near to Tin-Zaouatine, said the daily Echorouk.

The clash broke out when the frontier guards tried to intercept a convoy of five four-wheel drive vehicles in which the traffickers were travelling.

The traffickers escaped in the cars towards the border but were forced to abandon one of the vehicles.

The weapons haul included assault rifles and several boxes of amunition, said the daily Liberte.

Algerian authorities have seized more than 20 tons of cannabis since the start of the year.