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Washington - A U.S Customs and Border Protection surveillance plane recently detected a suspicious vessel in the Pacific Ocean, leading to the detention of five people and the seizure of cocaine weighing approximately eight tons valued at more than $313 million.

A CBP air unit flying in support of a multi-agency task force identified a fishing vessel, the FV Polar I, as it headed northbound from Guayaquil, Ecuador. After tracking the vessel for two days, CBP air interdiction agents notified a U.S. Navy ship of its location. The U.S Navy intercepted and boarded the vessel and discovered 299 bales of cocaine and detained five Mexican nationals on February 6.

The interception occurred 500 nautical miles southwest of Guayaquil, Ecuador. It is the largest seizure CBP Air and Marine has been involved in since the start of the new fiscal year October 1st.

CBP Air and Marine operates the world’s largest law enforcement air force and supports CBP and federal operations throughout the eastern Pacific, Caribbean and shorelines of the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.