Five seafarers arrested in a $1bn US cocaine bust have been remanded in custody to face a federal trial.

The crew were seized on the 9,962-teu MSC Gayane (built 2018) last week in Philadelphia.

A hearing will take place for a sixth arrested seafarer at a later date, the Star Tribune reported.

The men were handcuffed and wearing green prison jumpsuits during their hearing before a federal magistrate. Interpreters were present.

Some of the accused are from Serbia, Montenegro and Samoa.

They are facing drug conspiracy charges.

More than 15.8 tonnes of cocaine were found on board. The drugs are worth $1.1bn.

Authorities were still scanning boxes on the vessels on Monday.