The brothers were arrested in the Port of Faro

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Mr Stow said: "I think it is about time.

"The Portugese lawyer immediately lodged a complaint about the conduct of the trial which has taken all these months.

"Now finally some higher authority has given permission for a retrial which I am very pleased about."

Andrew and Graham Stow, from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, were each sentenced to 12 years after being found guilty of possessing three tons of cannabis valued at �3m.

Andrew, 36, and Graham, 41, set off from Wales in their fishing boat with the dream of setting up a diving school in Portugal.

They had stopped off at the Canary Islands off the Portuguese coast before docking at the port of Faro.

Officers claimed the brothers brought the drugs weighing 12,000kg into the port of Faro by dragging them across the seabed behind their boat.

My understanding is that this judgement was passed yesterday and is a very good outcome which will mean all the evidence will now be accepted

Solicitor Adrian Jenkins

Both men have repeatedly protested their innocence to the Portugese authorities accusations.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the brothers claim that the original trial was neither recorded, nor conducted bilingually and as such was illegal.

Solicitor Adrian Jenkins said: "I am overjoyed for them.

"My understanding is that this judgement was passed yesterday and is a very good outcome which will mean all the evidence will now be accepted."

Dyfed-Powys Police have co-operated by drafting a letter which shows that neither brother had a criminal record or was known to the police.

The maximum sentence in Portugal for drug trafficking is 20 years.

A trial date has not yet been set but it is believed the case will go ahead at the beginning of next year.