The vessel was intercepted off the coast of El Salvador and four suspected smugglers taken into custody

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

US authorities have seized a submarine-like vessel loaded with more than eight tonnes of cocaine off the coast of El Salvador.

US Navy, Customs and Border Protection and Coast Guard personnel took part in the operation last Saturday.

The semi-submersible vessel was tracked in international waters off the El Salvador coast by US aircraft. It was intercepted by the Coast Guard after a speedboat began to approach.

Inside the semi-submersible, authorities found 274 bales packed with 7,650kg (16,870 pounds) of cocaine worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Four suspected smugglers were taken into custody.

Traffickers use submarine-like vessels to move large amounts of cocaine because their low waterline profile makes them difficult to detect.

The interdiction is part of a 15-nation effort targeting international drug traffickers.