Portuguese authorities have captured more than 2.6 tonnes of cocaine in a huge anti-narcotics operation off the country’s Atlantic coast, a big blow to international drug trafficking networks that use maritime channels to carry cocaine from South America into Europe. Four people were apprehended in the operation by the Portuguese Judicial Police (PJ), the Portuguese Navy, the Air Force and the National Maritime Authority.
The operation, nicknamed “Buongiorno”, intercepted the fast boat southwest of Cabo Espichel, south of Lisbon. Officers seized more than 2.6 tonnes of cocaine aboard the boat, before taking control of the vessel and guiding it to port. The suspects, two Spanish nationals, one British citizen and one Albanian national, aged between 35 and 42, were arrested and are anticipated to be charged with international drug trafficking.
Investigators said the cocaine originated in South America and was destined for illegal markets in Europe. Officials claimed the package was probably managed by a sophisticated international organised crime network spanning many continents. The Judicial Police said the investigation continues into people behind the trafficking network at large and potential accomplices in Europe.
The seizure was yet another illustration of the rising use of the Atlantic Ocean as a significant cocaine trafficking route, Portuguese anti-drug officials said. In an attempt to elude law enforcement patrols, criminal organisations have increasingly used speed boats, fishing vessels and semi-submersible craft to bring significant quantities of drugs from Latin America into Europe.
The bust follows a string of large cocaine seizures across Europe this year, emphasising the magnitude of the continent’s cocaine trade. Despite record interceptions, law enforcement authorities have cautioned that organised crime organisations are continuing to alter their smuggling methods, utilising sophisticated logistics, encrypted communications and several maritime routes.
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Authorities said that close collaboration between Portuguese security agencies and international partners was lauded, and that such cooperation is necessary to destroy global trafficking networks. Prosecutors are preparing official charges while four individuals are being held and forensic specialists continue to examine the cocaine and other evidence gathered in the operation.
Portugal’s long Atlantic coastline and its strategic position between South America and the rest of Europe have made it an increasingly vital front line in Europe’s war on drug trafficking. “Continued investment in maritime monitoring and international intelligence sharing will be key to fighting shifting methods of drug cartels, security experts warn.
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