An elderly British couple have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs after £2million worth of cocaine was allegedly found in their suitcases while on-board a cruise.
The couple, aged 70 and 72, were on the Macro Polo, which was docked at Lisbon, Portugal when the discovery was made.
Police told local media that 9kg of cocaine was found hidden inside false bottoms in four suitcases.
Cops in Lisbon were tipped off by the UK's National Crime Agency about the couple.
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Vitor Ananais, who led the operation for Portugal's Policia Judiciaria, said: "The man and the woman are English although they don't live in England but in another European country.
"We knew who we were looking for and boarded the cruise ship with a search warrant. We believe the couple were given the drugs in a Caribbean island.
"We do not know for sure where the cocaine was going to be brought ashore.
"The couple were not at all showy and blended in well because most of the other passengers on the liner were elderly.
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"They were travelling alone. They didn't try to protest their innocence after their arrests. They haven't said anything to police as to how the drugs got in their cases."
A spokesman for Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which ran the cruise, said: "Portuguese police officials attended the Marco Polo in Lisbon last Tuesday (4 December 2018) and detained two passengers who were travelling on board the Cruise & Maritime Voyages' vessel.
"It is understood this was in connection with the suspected possession of narcotics. Cruise & Maritime Voyages is co-operating fully with the Portuguese police officials.
"Marco Polo departed from London Tilbury 5 November and was sailing on a West Indies and Azores cruise.
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"There were 610 passengers and 294 crew on board the ship. Marco Polo continued on her cruise as scheduled and arrived at the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury on Saturday 8 December.
"Cruise & Maritime Voyages do not tolerate any criminal activity or anti-social behaviour on board their ships."
According to local media, a number of plain clothes police officers who boarded the cruise in a 'discreet fashion', so as not to draw attention to the incident.
The couple are currently being held by police in Portugal.
Featured Image Credit: PA