The information was released by Correio da Manhã, which says that João Paulo Santos was arrested by the authorities during an investigation into an alleged cocaine scheme at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon.

The National Unit for Combating Drug Trafficking (UNCTE) of the Polícia Judiciária had already been investigating the case for four months. The alleged scheme consisted of removing suitcases loaded with cocaine from planes coming from South America, after they landed at Lisbon airport, thus avoiding the normal baggage collection and inspection circuit.

João Paulo Santos became a suspect in the case because he worked as a falconer at the airport, and his job was to keep small birds away from the Lisbon airport runway to avoid mechanical problems caused by them.

The investigation is still ongoing, and the Polícia Judiciária arrested two men allegedly involved in the operation on 11 September. One of them is the falconer for Sport Lisboa e Benfica. After appearing before a judge, the suspects were given the most severe precautionary measure: pre-trial detention.