Key facts
- Portugal seized 3.7 tonnes of cocaine off the coast of Faro.
- One person died and two were arrested during the operation.
- The drugs were found on a high-speed vessel used for trafficking.
- The operation was coordinated by the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N).
Portuguese authorities have seized 3.7 tonnes of cocaine off the coast of Faro following an international operation targeting drug trafficking. The operation, code-named "Mare Nostrum," was coordinated by the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N) and involved the Portuguese Navy, Maritime Police, Spain’s Guardia Civil, and Italy’s Guardia di Finanza.
According to the Judicial Police (PJ), the seizure occurred on Sunday after an investigation into a criminal group that used high-speed vessels to bring large quantities of drugs into Europe. Investigators detected and intercepted one such vessel approximately 80 nautical miles south of Faro. During the interception, officers approached a crew of three suspects. The crew ignored orders, leading to a collision during the chase. One suspect was seriously injured and later died. The other two suspects, identified as foreign nationals, were arrested and will face judicial proceedings in Lisbon.
João Oliveira, head of the PJ in Lisbon, described the group as "yet another international criminal organisation" and highlighted their use of "narcolancha," a speedboat commonly used in drug trafficking.