BEIJING - Chinese authorities, with the help of the US Drug enforcement Administration (DEA) have confiscated 70 kg of cocaine originating from South America, the Ministry of Public Security said Thursday.

In August, the DEA tipped off Chinese authorities a container departing from Peru and stopping through Mexico was highly suspected of containing drugs.

By analyzing phone messages and emails of a Mexican drug cartel member who had been murdered, the DEA said the container would arrive in Shanghai on Aug. 18, from where it would be put on board a ship destined for New Zealand.

Shanghai police and customs officers searched the ship upon its arrival and found 70 kilograms of cocaine, the largest amount ever recovered by Chinese police in a single case in recent years.

The case is being further investigated by the Shanghai customs authority.

Cases of cocaine entering China from South America have been on the rise, the Ministry of Public Security said.

The ministry said it has in recent years strengthened cooperation with foreign agencies including the DEA, with which it has regular intelligence exchanges, and that the efforts have apparently paid off.