BOGOTA — Colombian authorities said they have made the biggest cocaine seizure in the history of a country long plagued by traffic in the drug.

The National Police agency said Sunday that 50 commandos backed by helicopters seized about 8 tons of cocaine on a banana plantation in the northwestern department of Antioquia.

It said the drug belonged to a gang known as the Clan Usuaga and was apparently destined for the Caribbean and then to the United States.

President Juan Manuel Santos sent a tweet congratulating police on what he called the largest cocaine seizure in the history of Colombia, one of the world’s largest producers of the narcotic. Colombian police said they’ve seized more than 86 tons in all so far this year.

While prices are fluid and vary in different cities and regions, a kilogram of cocaine can sell for roughly $30,000 to $40,000 in the Washington area, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. At that rate, 8 tons of the unadulterated drug is worth about a quarter-billion dollars.

Associated Press