In a statement, the PJ says that the men were intercepted in the early hours of Monday just after they had transferred the drug, from the semi-rigid motorboat that is believed to have carried it from Morocco, to the boat.

During the operation police detained the smaller boat's two occupants, aged 36 and 62, and a third man, 48, who was piloting the twin-engine motorboat.

As well as the hashish, the two vessels were seized along with a light passenger vehicle.

The Portuguese air force collaborated in the operation, as well as the coastguard unit of the National Republican Guard (GNR) and the Maritime Police (naval coastguard).