Eight Brits are among 12 people arrested by Spanish police on suspicion of smuggling three tons of cocaine into the country, according to reports. The cocaine, worth an estimated £500m (€682m, $734m), was seized in Galicia, north-west Spain, suspected of being bound for an "important group of drug traffickers based on the Costa del Sol".

The Galicia region of Spain is known to be a major smuggling port for drugs into Europe from South Africa. Spain's National Police said the haul is the largest the area has seen for 17 years. A spokesperson added: "Three tons of cocaine that were going to be bought by an important Costa del Sol-based group of drug traffickers have been confiscated.

"There are 12 detainees including the transporters of the drugs who are Spanish and the sellers and buyers of the drugs who are Dutch and British respectively." According to the Sun, eight of the suspects are British and are currently being questioned in Malaga.

Video released by Spanish police also shows weapons and stacks of money were also seized at the same time as the cocaine.

According to Spanish media, prior to their arrest the Dutch suspects had been "flaunting their wealth" while staying at a luxury hotel in Santiago de Compostela, including paying for items using a €500 note. During the arrest, a van and a shuttle holding the cocaine rammed the patrol vehicles which were trying to stop the drivers, but none of the officers were injured.

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