A 54 year old Uruguayan pilot was arrested yesterday morning in San Bartolome de Tirajana after 25kg of cocaine were found in a sports bag inside the small seaplane he had been forced to land on Águila beach the previous day.

After initially being released without charge on Tuesday after presenting valid identity papers and pilot's licence, and explaining that he had run out of fuel on his way from North Africa, Gregorio VC, was detained when he returned to the plane yesterday carrying several cans of petrol.

After the drugs were found, the area was cordoned off and a search - supported from the air by a helicopter - was carried out during which two more bundles, each containing 25kg of cocaine, were discovered.