An individual from Ireland is one of the three individuals detained after Portuguese authorities intercepted a yacht carrying over 1.5 tonnes of cocaine near the Azores.

Alongside two Danish nationals, the trio was apprehended when 1,660kg of cocaine, valued at approximately €110 million, was found aboard the 11-meter vessel.

All three suspects are currently in custody at Sao Miguel Prison in Ponta Delgada, Azores, after being remanded by a judge following their initial court appearance.

Portuguese police revealed that Spanish authorities had also detained the alleged leader of the criminal group in a separate operation on the Costa del Sol.

Following the arrests, a taser gun and €63,000 in cash were confiscated. Although the nationality of the individual has not been officially disclosed, reports suggest he is Danish.

The operation, known as Operation Vikings, led to the seizure of the large quantity of cocaine at sea.

A spokesperson for the Policia Judiciaria of Portugal referred to the detained individuals as 'foreigners' in an official statement, with insider information confirming that one of them is Irish.

Irish authorities were reported to have assisted the Portuguese police in the operation.

The Portuguese police statement highlighted, 'With the assistance of the Portuguese Navy, we conducted an operation to combat international drug trafficking by sea. A sailing boat carrying approximately 1,666kg of cocaine was intercepted off the Azores archipelago as it traveled between South America and Europe.'

Operation Vikings was the culmination of a two-year investigation aimed at dismantling an international criminal network involved in trafficking cocaine to Europe, with Portugal being used as a base.

Due to safety concerns, the three crew members aboard the sailboat, who were subsequently arrested, were transferred along with the drugs to a Portuguese Navy vessel, involving over 50 military personnel.

The operation also saw the involvement of the Portuguese Air Force, the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre-Narcotics (MAOC-N), the Ponta Delgada Maritime Police, and the Ponta Delgada Port Authority.

International cooperation was crucial, with support from the Spanish National Police, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Danish National Special Crimes Unit, and French and Irish authorities.

The detainees, aged between 43 and 51, appeared in court in Ponta Delgada for initial questioning and have been remanded in custody. Simultaneously, a parallel investigation in Spain led to the arrest of an individual believed to be the leader of the criminal organization, with various items seized from his residence.

In a separate incident last year, a significant amount of cocaine washed up on Danish beaches, with links to Ireland. Individuals involved in the drug trafficking operation were apprehended, with some pleading guilty to charges.

It remains unclear whether the recent Portuguese police operation is connected to these previous events.

The estimated street value of the seized drugs in Portugal is around €64 million, but in Ireland, it is believed to be closer to €110 million.