Police detected eight cannabis plantations in Milopotamos, near Rethymnon in Crete yesterday, in an operation involving some 80 law enforcement officers and a helicopter.

However, the operation got off to a difficult start as local residents fired about 70-80 shots at the officers trying stop them from reaching the plantations, authorities said.

“They tried to scare us but despite the conditions we stayed in the area and took all the necessary measures to protect ourselves,” said a senior police officer.

No one was hurt in the operation which resulted in the confiscation of 439 cannabis plants, some of which were 4 meters high. No arrests were made.

Since the start of summer, police have launched 22 raids in the Rethymnon area and have confiscated more than 3,000 plants.