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(CNN) -
Security services on a cruise ship discovered 69.5 pounds (31.5 kilos) of cocaine aboard the ship last week and turned the loot over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. its acronym in English) when docking at a Florida port, the agency said in a statement.
Agents aboard the cruise ship alerted CBP agents assigned to the Port Everglades seaport that during an inspection they had found garbage bags with brick-shaped packages in an empty space on the ship.
On June 6, CBP agents met with cruise ship officials and security during a maintenance stop at Port Everglades and packets of white powder tested positive for cocaine, CBP said.
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CBP's Advanced Tactical Cargo Control Team conducted a "close inspection" of the ship and found no other contraband material, the agency said.
Dylan DeFrancisci, Port Everglades / Fort Lauderdale director of port field operations, praised the operation that discovered cocaine.
"This seizure is indicative of the excellent collaboration CBP has with our industry partners to detect and intercept illegal drug smuggling into our nation," DeFrancisci said in a statement.
"Our officers strive daily to develop and enhance our partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, industry partners, and citizens of our community to stop criminal activity at our borders, whether land, air, or sea."
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CBP says it seized about 3,677 pounds of drugs (1.6 tons) on any given day in 2020.
This latest discovery comes as COVID-19 vaccines have opened the door for cruise ships to conduct operational tests.
Cruises in US waters were suspended last March, due to a no-sail order issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Last month, the CDC issued updated guidelines that allow cruise operators to begin simulated trips with volunteer passengers.
Some cruise companies have resumed operations in other parts of the world, including MSC Cruises and Costa Cruise Lines in Europe.
Many lines point to mid-summer to resume sailing in US waters, provided they can meet CDC requirements.
CNN's Ryan Prior contributed to this report.
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