MIAMI (AP) – The crew of a Maine-based Coast Guard cutter has been credited with seizing 6,700 pounds of cocaine and detaining five suspected smugglers.

The 270-foot cutter Campbell was en route Friday to Florida’s Mayport Naval Station, where it was to offload the cocaine and suspects, officials said.

The contraband and suspects were to be turned over to law enforcement and Department of Justice officials on Saturday.

“This illustrates the value of a Coast Guard presence in deep water,” said Cmdr. Matthew von Ruden, Campbell’s commanding officer. “The Campbell’s crew prevented more than three tons of cocaine valued at $220 million from reaching our streets.”

The episode unfolded on July 6 in the Caribbean when someone was spotted dumping bales from the 65-foot Honduran fishing vessel Ocean Mistery while the cutter was on routine patrol 50 miles south of Cayos de Albuquerque, Colombia.

The crew of the Kittery-based cutter collected one of the bales and gave pursuit after it tested positive for cocaine, officials said.

The fishing boat refused to stop during the hour-long chase until the Campbell fired warning shots from a 50-caliber machine gun. A law enforcement team from the Campbell boarded and took control of the vessel and crew without incident.

The Ocean Mistery was turned over to the Honduran government before the Campbell turned around and headed to Florida.