India, Sept. 15 -- Portuguese football news has been rocked by an unexpected scandal after Joao Paulo Santos, a prominent bird trainer associated with SL Benfica's iconic mascot eagle, was taken into custody over an alleged international drug smuggling operation. The 46-year-old falconer was arrested by the Judicial Police at Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport following a targeted narcotics investigation, with a court subsequently ordering him to remain in preventive detention without bail as inquiries continue.

A falconer who trains Benfica's mascot eagle has been detained on suspicion of helping run a cocaine trafficking operation through Lisbon Airport pic.twitter.com/H0GrhSJDko

- Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) September 14, 202...