The operation took place at dawn Monday when the speedboat was intercepted by the French frigate, the Ventose, according to the embassy.

The Ventose patrols the zone as part of a Caribbean anti-drugs agreement signed by France, the United States, the Netherlands, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.

The French embassy said "close to three tons of cocaine" were seized. Two Hondurans and two Colombians on board were arrested and transferred to the French island of Martinique.

US officials estimate that 250 tons of cocaine arrive in the United States from Central America, a transit route from South America, where cocaine is produced.