Coast Guard rescues sea turtle trapped among 816kg of cocaine packages

Officials aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis came across the turtle in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean on November 19 while on a 68-day patrol. Photo / AP

A sea turtle was rescued by US Coast Guard officials after they discovered it floating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean attached to more than 816kg of cocaine.

Officials aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis came across the turtle in international waters on November 19 while on a 68-day patrol that ended on Saturday (local time).

Crew members spotted a "debris field" and launched a small boat to investigate - only to find drug packages surrounding the entangled sea turtle, according to the the Daily Mail.

"They saw significant chaffing from the lines on his neck and flippers," the Coast Guard said in a statement.

Crew members were able to cut lines from around the turtle's neck and eventually freed the animal.

They followed the 22m of line to find more than 816kg - worth approximately US$50million ($72.2m) - of cocaine in the debris field, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

Thetis was working in the Eastern Pacific as part of Operation Martillo when they found the turtle.

Operation Martillo (hammer) is a joint effort between the Coast Guard and international law enforcement partners to squash the drug trade.

While in the Eastern Pacific, Thetis helped seize 6755kg of cocaine and 6kg of marijuana in eight interdictions that led to the arrests of 24 suspected smugglers.

In total, the seized drugs had a street value of more than US$135m, the Coast Guard said.