UPDATE 1-U.S. seizes 16.5 tons of cocaine from ship in Philadelphia

Federal authorities seized 16.5 tons of cocaine from a ship in Philadelphia in one of the largest drug seizures in U.S. history, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia estimated the drugs' value at more than $1 billion, it said on Twitter. "This amount of cocaine could kill millions – MILLIONS – of people," U.S. Attorney in Pennsylvania William McSwain said on Twitter.

The cocaine was seized at Philadelphia's Packer Marine Terminal, and the ship's crew was arrested, prosecutors said.