British police have seized $6 billion worth of suspected U.S. bonds and more than 50,000 ecstasy tablets from a drug-trafficking ring in southeast England, the National Crime Squad (NCS) said on Thursday.

If the bonds are genuine, the seizure will go down as one of the biggest confiscations of criminal goods in history.

Police have arrested nine people in London and the surrounding area as part of Operation Hobart, which began in July. All have been charged with drugs related offences, the NCS said.

Two people have been arrested in Colombia and two in Ecuador as part of the same operation, which involved police officers from all three countries.

"This is an ongoing operation which started in July," said Jackie Bennett, spokeswoman for the NCS, which oversees drug raids across Britain.

"Most of the arrests made here were on July 18 and August 7 -- the date of the most recent arrests. All of those charged so far are due to appear for a plea and directions hearing at Winchester Crown Court in mid-November," she said.

She said the NCS was still investigating whether the U.S. bonds were genuine. "They have a face value of $6 billion," she said.

"The main thrust of the investigation was a drugs conspiracy. We recovered 55,000 ecstasy tablets, a pill press, a small amount of cocaine, a small amount of cannabis, ecstasy powder and around 15 kg (33 pounds) of amphetamine paste."

Bennett said the NCS had also identified around 7 million pounds ($11 million) in assets, thought to be owned by the gang.

"We've got intelligence linking them to seizures elsewhere, including a seizure in Ecuador," she said.

Earlier, Colombia's state prosecution service said two suspects had been arrested in Colombia and another two in Ecuador as part of the operation.

Bennett said the Colombian arrests were made on Friday.

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