Panamanian authorities on Tuesday announced a large seizure of US-bound cocaine on a ferry in the Pacific, at a time when Washington is upping an anti-drug military deployment in Latin America.

Prosecutor Julio Villareal told reporters approximately 12 tonnes of drugs, "in this case cocaine," were seized in an operation on Monday, and 10 people arrested.

It was one the biggest such hauls in Panamanian waters to date, he said.

Panama is a transit point for cocaine from South America, mainly Colombia, destined for the United States – the world's largest consumer.

Villareal said Venezuelans, Ecuadorans and Nicaraguans were among those detained on the ferry, which had set out from Colombia.

Panama in 2023 seized a total of 119 metric tonnes of drugs.

Latin American countries have been keen to show off anti-narcotics efforts as US strikes on alleged drug-ferrying boats have claimed at least 76 lives so far in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Washington said its military deployment in the region is part of an anti-drug campaign, but Venezuela in particular fears it is all a ploy to get rid of its president, Nicolas Maduro. (AFP)