The boat was intercepted on Saturday in a joint operation carried out by the Mozambican navy and the National Criminal Investigation Service (Sernic).

The interception occurred about 50km (31 miles) from the Mozambican coast.

Occupants of the vessel are said to have set it on fire moments before their arrest.

Police say the fire destroyed the approximately 1.5 tonnes of heroin suspected to be on board.

Police trying to put fire out

Mozambique Defence Forces

They then jumped off the ship into the Mozambique Channel. Three of them died, while 12 others were rescued by the navy.

The suspects, all of Iranian nationality, are being detained in the provincial capital, Pemba.

Local media reports indicate the operation resulted from intelligence gathered from the various agencies involved in fighting against drug trafficking.