Huge cocaine stash found on ranch in Venezuela

Authorities seized more than 4.4 tons (4 metric tons) of cocaine at a ranch Thursday after F-16 fighter jets intercepted a plane that was flying to pick up the load, Venezuela's top security official said.

Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami called the drug seizure a significant blow to drug traffickers using Venezuela as a transshipment point for Colombian cocaine destined for the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.

"This is the biggest haul in recent years," he said

Soldiers are searching the area surrounding the ranch located in central Guarico state for more cocaine, El Aissami said. "We believe there could be more buried …