OVER 2.6 TONS OF COCAINE SEIZED

ROME, JULY 27 /SRNA/ - Police have seized more than 2.6 tons of cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Portugal, the Italian border police said.

The statement said the value of the seized drugs was estimated at 500 million euros.

Italy's financial police said the drugs were found in a "fast inflatable boat," which smugglers usually use to pick up illegal cargo dumped from larger ships coming from South America.

Reuters reports that two Spaniards, an Albanian living in Italy and a resident of Gibraltar were arrested.