Packages of cocaine have been discovered on a Hapag-Lloyd containership that was boarded by five men off Colombia.

The German shipowner confirmed that the 4,612-teu Dusseldorf Express (built 1998) had called in authorities when crew found "pirates" on board off Cartagena on 8 January.

The seafarers retreated to the citadel and the men were removed.

Now, it has emerged that coastguard units and police also seized 1,539 kg of cocaine discovered on the vessel.