In recent days, a maritime operation carried out by the Portuguese Navy and the Judicial Police resulted in the interception of a Self-Propelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) vessel transporting more than 1.7 tonnes of cocaine.
Information received through MAOC-N indicated that a criminal organisation was in the process of dispatching a vessel loaded with cocaine destined for Europe. MAOC-N partners immediately began working on this intelligence, and the Portuguese authorities offered to deploy maritime assets to conduct the at-sea operation.
A few days later, a Portuguese vessel successfully located the SPSS approximately 1000 nautical miles off Lisbon and carried out a boarding operation, which led to the seizure of 1740kg of cocaine and the arrest of four crew members.
Due to adverse weather and sea conditions, as well as the fragile construction of the SPSS, it was not possible to complete the towing of the narco-submarine, which subsequently sank in the open sea.
In addition to the participation of the Portuguese Navy and Judicial Police, the operation was supported by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force – South (JIATF-S), and the United Kingdomβs National Crime Agency (NCA), working together within the scope of MAOC-N.
This is the second SPSS intercepted by the Portuguese authorities in 2025. In March, a joint operation involving the Portuguese Navy, Judicial Police and Air Force, conducted approximately 1200 nautical miles off Lisbon, resulted in the seizure of six tonnes of cocaine.
Press Release: https://www.policiajudiciaria.pt/operacao-el-dorado-intercetado-semi-submersivel-com-cerca-de-17-toneladas-de-droga/
