AP - Spanish police seized about 3 tonnes of cocaine on a fishing boat intercepted in international waters and arrested 18 people, authorities said.

Spanish National Police joined by members of the Spanish Army and customs agents boarded the Ghanaian-flagged boat off the African coast, a police statement said.

The crew of the Ceres II, four Koreans, two Spaniards and 12 Ghanaians, were arrested, according to the police statement.

The ship was coming from South America carrying the cocaine bound for Europe, it added.

Spain is a major entry point into Europe for cocaine coming from Colombia, Bolivia and Peru.

The boat was being towed to the Spanish port of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands