RABAT, March 27 (Xinhua) -- One drug dealer was killed, and three others arrested by Moroccan security services on Wednesday in an operation that seized 10.3 tonnes of cannabis in Casablanca, the North African country's economic hub, Moroccan police said in a statement.

       According to the statement, the security services intercepted two vehicles loaded with cannabis at the Casablanca highway ring road.

       The driver of one vehicle and his accomplice were arrested on the spot. The driver of the other vehicle and his accomplice refused to comply, resisting with a hunting rifle, the statement said.

       One of the suspects was shot dead after exchanging gunfire with the police, while the driver was arrested, it said.

       According to the statement, the three suspects were under investigative custody, and the body of the fourth suspect was taken for autopsy.

       Despite efforts in the past decade to crack down on cannabis farming, Morocco remains one of the world's largest producers of cannabis resin.