More than US$1 billion worth of cocaine seized in ‘one of largest’ drug busts in US history

16 tonnes of contraband were found in seven containers aboard the MSC Gayane cargo ship at Philadelphia port

US attorney for the Eastern District of Philadelphia called it ‘one of the largest drug seizures in United States history’

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Authorities search a container along the Delaware River in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Published: 5:01am, 19 Jun 2019Updated: 5:32am, 19 Jun 2019

US authorities said on Tuesday they had seized around 16 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of over US$1 billion in a historic drug bust aboard a ship at the port of Philadelphia.

“This is one of the largest drug seizures in United States history,” tweeted William McSwain, the US attorney for the Eastern District of Philadelphia.

“Members of the ship’s crew have been arrested and federally charged” following the raid at Philadelphia’s Packer Marine Terminal, McSwain’s office said on Twitter.

The drugs were found in seven containers aboard the MSC Gayane cargo ship, which was leaving for Europe after having previously called in Chile, Panama and the Bahamas, according to local media.

The MSC Gayane container ship on the Delaware River in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Images broadcast on local television showed vehicles from the US Customs and Border Protection on the wharves of the port, and four agents boarding the large container ship.