Belgrade  - Serbian and US security forces seized 2.8 tons of cocaine destined for the European market on two ships in the Atlantic Ocean, Belgrade daily Blic reported Friday.

A number of people were arrested on the ships and in Serbia, and many were Serbian citizens who organized the entire deal, the daily quoted an unnamed source as saying.

The cocaine, en route from South America to Europe, was worth around 120 million euros (179 million dollars), but with a street value of up to 250 million euros (373.45 million dollars), the daily said.

Serbia's National Security Council said the bust was part of an international operation to crack down on the illegal drugs trade. Serbia is a transit point for illegal drugs bound for western Europe. (dpa)