The US Coast Guard has seized about 7,250 pounds of cocaine from a suspected drug-smuggling vessel intercepted roughly 50 miles south of Puerto Rico.

The Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon’s crew stopped the vessel on Friday during an operation supported by Coast Guard and US Customs and Border Protection air and marine units.

The cocaine has an estimated street value of US$54.5 million.

Five people aboard the vessel were detained and remain in custody pending further investigation.

The suspected smuggling vessel was later destroyed after authorities determined that it posed a hazard to navigation.

Coast Guard Southeast District Commander Adm. Adam Chamie praised the crew of the Richard Dixon and the other agencies involved in the operation.

“This interdiction shows what ready crews and strong interagency partnerships can achieve in the maritime domain,” Chamie said.

Lt. Cmdr. Michael Torgesen, commanding officer of the Richard Dixon, described the operation as a major blow to transnational smuggling networks.