Paul Chooweenam, 33, of Jamaica, N.Y., was charged in U.S. District Court in Baltimore with conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine.

"Here we have someone who was one of the upper-level people who traffics drugs into our city," said Police Commissioner Kevin Clark at a news conference with U.S. Attorney Thomas DiBiagio and other law enforcement officials.

Timothy Holloran, assistant special agent in charge of U.S. Customs in Baltimore, described it as one of the biggest drug busts in Baltimore in recent years. He said the largest bust in the city involved about 1,000 kilograms of cocaine about five years ago _ also at the Port of Baltimore.

"This is a huge arrest," Clark said. "This is a lot of drugs that's not going to reach the streets of our city and probably some of the surrounding areas."

The cocaine weighed about 338 pounds. It would have had a street value of between $25 million and $40 million, Clark said.

U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents received a tip about the shipment this month. They were told a freighter carrying the drugs was coming from the Republic of Guyana, making a stop in Savannah, Ga.

After the freighter arrived in Savannah on Tuesday, authorities put it under surveillance all the way to Baltimore, which was the shipment's destination.

On Wednesday night, authorities said, Chooweenam went to the shipping container's location with four suitcases. After the container was opened in his presence, Chooweenam allegedly put about 130 bricks of cocaine into the suitcases and loaded them into a car.

He was arrested when he tried to leave the area, DiBiagio said. Chooweenam was in federal custody on Thursday. He faces a possible life sentence and a $4 million fine.

Clark said the bust was an example of how the city, state and local officials were working together arrest high-level drug dealers.

"So let this put them on notice, if you're going to bring your dope in here we're going to take it," Clark said. "We're going to take your money, too."

DiBiagio said an investigation into the shipment was ongoing.