U.S. Coast Guard seizes 3,532 pounds of cocaine in the Caribbean worth $43 million

The U.S. Coast Guard hauled in more than 3,500 pounds of cocaine after spotting a go-fast boat in the Caribbean, the agency announced.

The interdiction carried out as part of "Operation Martillo" took place on March 3 when aerial surveillance led the Coast Guard Cutter Northland to the 35-foot go-fast vessel.

According to the Coast Guard, personnel from the Northland boarded the boat, detained four suspected smugglers and seized 54 bales of cocaine.

The agency says the drugs have a wholesale value of $43,254,000.

"Operation Martillo" is part of the U.S. government's effort to cut into Central American transit routes for illicit drugs, weapons and cash.

The cutter Northland is a 270-foot medium-endurance vessel out of Portsmouth, Va. It was assisted in the interdiction by the Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island out of Key West, the Coast Guard said.