"I note with satisfaction the freeing of our compatriots in Venezuela," read a note on Costa's official Twitter account. "I congratulate the Embassy of Portugal in Caracas and the whole team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who contributed to the successful resolution of this situation."

Early on Tuesday, in New York, Portugal's foreign minister, Augusto Santos Silva, had commented on the case of the seven Portuguese nationals and five descendants of Portuguese who were being held in Caracas, saying that he already had "information" that there had been "developments" concerning the group's situation.

"I am confirming [the information on] those developments and, as soon as I have the confirmation, that information will be released publicly," Santos Silva told journalists.

The minister was speaking after an informal meeting of leaders from members of the Community of Portuguese-Language Countries (CPLP), on the first day of the 73rd session of the General Assembley of the United Nations.