The Portuguese Judicial Police, through the National Unit for the Fight against Drug Trafficking, carried out a police operation to intercept a container ship transporting an illegal cargo of approximately five tons of cocaine.
The mission was carried out in coordination and cooperation with the Portuguese Navy and Air Force. The action made it possible to dismantle a criminal group dedicated to introducing large quantities of drugs into the European continent through the use of maritime transport.
The vessel, coming from a Latin American country, was detected and boarded approximately 640 nautical miles from Lisbon, equivalent to 1,185 kilometers, in conditions that the police force described as extremely difficult.
Inside the vessel, two foreigners in an irregular situation and without documentation were found and detained, and several objects used for navigation, throwing the drug into the sea, and transporting cocaine were seized.
Following the investigations carried out and after the identification and detention of the two stowaways, a crew member, also a foreigner, was identified and arrested under strong suspicion of being involved in the criminal plot.
The investigation was initiated as a result of information shared at MAOC-N (Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics) and in collaboration and coordination with the police authorities of the United Kingdom (National Crime Agency) and Spain (Policia Nacional).
The container ship carrying the stowaways and the drugs was escorted by the Navy to the Port of Sines, where it finally docked.
