In the early hours of the 27th of May, a joint operation carried out by the Portuguese authorities involving the Judicial Police, the Navy and the Air Force, seized 1470Kg of cocaine on board a sailing vessel, intercepted at approximately 400nm NW from Lisbon.
The two crew members, of Italian and Venezuelan nationality, have been arrested and presented to the competent judicial authorities upon arrival in Portugal. It is believed that the vessel had previously loaded the drugs off the coast of Brazil before continuing its course towards Europe.
This seizure is the result of MAOC (N)’s partner countries’ close cooperation and information sharing under the Centre’s operational scope. In addition to the involvement of the aforementioned Portuguese authorities, the operation was supported by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) and US Drugs Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Press Release (PT): https://www.policiajudiciaria.pt/operacao-iberia-combate-ao-trafico-transcontinental-de-estupefacientes/
