Portugal seizes 1.5 tonnes of cocaine off Madeira

LISBON, Feb 14 (Reuters) Portuguese police today said they had seized an estimated 1.5 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a Spanish yacht near the mid-Atlantic Portuguese islands of Madeira and arrested three men.

The 20-metre long yacht had been under surveillance by authorities since November 2006, police spokeswoman Fernanda Ines said, adding it had carried out several drug smuggling operations from Madeira to mainland Portugal and Spain.

Ines said the three Greek men on board, who are thought to belong to an international drug ring based in Spain, were arrested. They will be questioned by a judge later in the day.

''More arrests are expected in coming days,'' she said.

REUTERS KD KN1946