The British frigate HMS Iron Duke has seized 5.5 tons of cocaine worth an estimated $384 million from a fishing boat off the coast of Latin America, a Spanish news agency said according to RIA Novosti.
According to a statement issued by the Royal Navy, "it is the largest drugs bust by value, and by volume, in terms of cocaine," the EFE news agency reported.
Iron Duke intercepted the Cristal fishing boat on September 15 in a joint operation with another British warship, RFA Fort George, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The drugs, packed in 212 sacks weighing about 26 kilograms each, were found hidden underneath concrete blocks and sheets of metal in the ship's hold.
Several drug runners of different nationalities had been arrested, the agency cited commander of the British warship, Cdr. Andrew Stacey as saying.
The Iron Duke frigate, which patrols waters off South America on stand-by to take part in anti-drugs operations, has already been involved in two operations in the area since the beginning of this year, which seized cocaine worth an estimated $62 mln.