The suspects, aged 72 and 70, were arrested after the Portuguese authorities were passed information from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), the Press Association reports.
In a statement, Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria said the couple were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking after the ship, CMV’s Marco Polo, arrived at Lisbon’s cruise terminal. They have been remanded in custody.
After a search of their cabin, police seized four suitcases in which “a high amount of product, more specifically cocaine” had been “ingeniously concealed”.
A joint investigation involving the Portuguese authorities and the NCA is under way.