French authorities find 1.3 tons of cocaine on Air France flight

PARIS, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- About 1.3 tons of pure cocaine were found in unclaimed suitcases aboard an Air France flight to Paris from Caracas, Venezuela, officials said.

The drugs -- worth about $270 million -- were found in 30 suitcases that were not registered to any passengers on the Sept. 11 flight, CNN reported Sunday.

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls Saturday said several people were arrested in the case, which he said, "illustrates the importance of strengthening International cooperation in the fight against traffickers."

Venezuelan authorities were also investigating, the country's public ministry said.