Scots drugs suspect faces extradition from Portugal
Portuguese police made the arrest while working in co-operation with the UK's National Crime Agency
- Published
A man described as "one of the UK's most wanted" is facing extradition to Scotland after being arrested on the Algarve.
Portuguese police said they had held the 40-year-old in the town of Boliqueime near Albufeira on an international arrest warrant.
BBC Scotland News understands that the man is William Byrne, from Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde, who is suspected of "criminal association and illicit drug trafficking".
However, Portuguese police did not name him in a statement and are unlikely to do so officially.
Portuguese police said the suspect was arrested on Tuesday as he was driving through Boliqueime.
He is not thought to have offered any resistance.
In a statement, the Policia Judiciaria said: "The arrest of the 40-year-old suspect took place in the context of international police co-operation with the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), in compliance with an international arrest warrant issued by the UK judicial authorities."
Byrne appeared before an extradition judge on Wednesday and was remanded in custody.
It is not clear if he consented to extradition or opposed a forced return to Scotland.
Police Scotland declined to comment.