Portuguese police seize 1.7 tons of cocaine, arrest five Brazilians

Portuguese police seize 1.7 tons of cocaine, arrest five Brazilians

2010-10-11 23:30:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

LISBON (BNO NEWS) -- Portuguese police seized 1.7 tons of cocaine hidden in 10 containers that arrived from Brazil, in an operation that led to the arrest of five Brazilians, authorities said on Monday.

In a statement, the Portuguese police said four of the arrested are businessmen and the fifth a Brazilian police officer. According to police, this is one of the largest cocaine seizures made in Portugal in recent years.

Police also seized 30,000 EUR in cash, documents and several phones that should link the Brazilians with other suspects, both in Portugal and Brazil and in other European countries, including Spain.

Police said the drug arrived from Brazil at the port of Leixoes, in northern Portugal and later it was transported to a warehouse in Montijo, near Lisbon, where they arrested the individuals, aged between 21 and 49.

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