Colombian authorities say they've made the biggest cocaine seizure in the history of a country long plagued by traffic in the drug.

The National Police agency says 50 commandos backed by helicopters seized about 8 tons of cocaine on a banana plantation in the northwestern department of Antioquia.

It says the drug belonged to a gang known as the Clan Usuaga and was apparently destined for the Caribbean and then to the United States.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos sent a tweet Sunday congratulating police on what he called the largest cocaine seizure in the history of Colombia, a major producer of the narcotic.

Police say they've seized more than 86 tons in all so far this year.