Colombian officers seized on Thursday 431 kg of cocaine that is estimated to be worth 12 million U.S. dollars on the black market.

Officers taking part in the navy-army-police joint operation found four baskets and 392 packages inside a cave in a jungle area of the country's southern province of Putumayo, and preliminary tests by the Judicial Police showed the contents were high-purity cocaine, a navy statement said.

The illegal drugs were hidden there by rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) for later transfer to Central America, authorities said.

Thursday's operation was a strong blow to the finances of the FARC's southern front, the navy statement said.

The FARC is Colombia's largest rebel group that has been fighting the government since 1964 and is currently engaged in peace talks with the government.