BOGOTA (AFP) - Colombian authorities and US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents seized more than five tonnes of cocaine from a Panamanian-flagged ship in the waters between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, authorities said Saturday.

The bust came as a result of a joint investigation between Colombia and the DEA, Colombian prosecutor Alexandra Ladino said.

"We know that this boat was going directly to the United States," so the 14 people arrested on board would be prosecuted there, she said.

The boat was carrying 5,284 kilograms of cocaine.

Among those arrested were eight people from Colombia, three from Panama, a Peruvian, an Ecuadorian and the ship's captain, a Cuban national.

Authorities were trying to determine which drug cartel produced the cocaine.