"The Judiciary Police, through the Southern Directorate, located and arrested, in Boliqueime [municipality of Loulé], one of the UK's most wanted men, who is strongly suspected of committing the crimes of criminal association and illicit drug trafficking," reads a statement from the police force.

The PJ explains that the detainee is the leader of a criminal organization involved in large-scale international cocaine and hashish trafficking and had been on the run for approximately two years, following a court order."

According to the statement, criminal activity in the United Kingdom also includes "recognized incidents of violence and evasion from authorities, including attempted hit and runs."

The detainee, a foreign citizen, was in possession of a false identity and will now appear before the Court of Appeal in Évora, which will assess his extradition to the requesting country, Scotland, the statement adds.

The PJ (Public Justice) said the arrest of the 40-year-old suspect occurred as part of international police cooperation with the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), in compliance with an international arrest warrant issued by UK judicial authorities.