The Carolina was seized in international waters

The sixty sacks of cocaine, weighing 1.8 tonnes, constitute one of France's biggest seizures of the drug.

French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin said the raid showed "the success of international co-operation in the fight against drug trafficking".

The vessel, the Carolina, was intercepted on Friday morning local time and searched by customs officials, gendarmes and police.

International operation

The US Coast Guard and British Special Services assisted the French navy.

Recent cocaine busts

13 May: US Coast Guard seizes 11.8 tonnes on fishing boat in Pacific 27 July: Australian police discover 1 tonne buried on a beach 27 July: French navy intercepts 1.8 tonnes on boat off French Guiana

The bust was the second largest by French authorities in the last decade.

In June 2000, they seized 2.2 tonnes of cocaine off the coast of the Caribbean island of Martinique - like French Guiana, an overseas French possession.

Mr Jospin said France was increasing its maritime presence in the Caribbean to combat drug trafficking.