U.S., Costa Rica jointly seize 3.5 tons of cocaine

Around 3.5 tons of cocaine were seized onboard a fishing boat on high seas in a joint operation by the United States and Costa Rica, said the Costa Rican Public Security Ministry in a statement on Monday.

Four suspected smugglers were arrested, said the statement.

The fishing boat was due to reach Costa Rica's port of Puntarenas on Monday afternoon, carrying the detainees and the drugs.

Costa Rican boats have been increasingly used for drug trade. The United States and Costa Rica signed a treaty in 1998 on joint air and sea patrols to crack down on drug smuggling.

Source: Xinhua