Medicinal cannabis trafficking ring used Infarmed loopholes, prosecutors allege

A criminal network allegedly exploited weaknesses in Portugal’s medicinal cannabis licensing system to divert tonnes of cannabis onto the black market, according to prosecutors investigating one of the country’s largest drug trafficking cases.

The scheme, uncovered during Operation Erva Daninha (“Operation Weed”), involved a Portuguese pharmaceutical sector businessman and a lawyer, both of whom have been charged with drug trafficking, criminal association and document forgery.

According to details of the indictment reported by Jornal de Notícias, the organisation had been operating in Portugal since 2020 and was aware of vulnerabilities in the monitoring and control systems overseen by Infarmed, Portugal’s medicines and health products authority.

Prosecutors allege the group used those weaknesses to obtain licences for the production, import and export of medicinal cannabis before diverting substantial quantities of the drug to illegal markets in Europe and Africa.

The investigation culminated in a series of searches carried out around a year ago, during which authorities seized more than seven tonnes of cannabis and approximately €400,000 in cash.

The scale of the seizures reinforced investigators’ suspicions that Portugal’s regulated medicinal cannabis sector had been used as a cover for international trafficking operations.

According to the prosecution, members of the organisation forged import certificates from countries including Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of the Congo and Kenya. The fraudulent documents allegedly allowed cannabis shipments to leave Portugal while avoiding scrutiny from customs and law enforcement authorities.

Officials claim the falsified paperwork enabled the network to create the appearance of legitimate exports destined for authorised markets, while in reality the cannabis was being channelled into illegal distribution networks abroad.

In total, 24 defendants have been charged in connection with the case. Among them are individuals and companies involved in the production, import and export of medicinal cannabis in Portugal.

The case raises fresh questions about oversight within one of Europe’s fastest-growing medicinal cannabis industries. Portugal has become a major hub for cannabis cultivation and export in recent years, attracting significant foreign investment due to its favourable climate and regulatory framework.

While the country permits the cultivation and export of medicinal cannabis under strict licensing rules, recreational use remains illegal, making effective monitoring essential to prevent diversion into illicit markets.

The allegations do not concern the wider medicinal cannabis industry, which operates under regulatory supervision, but prosecutors argue the case highlights the importance of robust controls and verification procedures.

If convicted, the defendants could face substantial prison sentences for offences including international drug trafficking, participation in a criminal organisation and document falsification.

The investigation remains one of the most significant ever conducted into Portugal’s medicinal cannabis sector.

Source: Jornal de Notícias/SIC Notícias

Portugal Resident

The Latest News from Portugal in english. Explore Portugal News, Algarve News, Portugal Events, Community, Business, Lifestyle from Portugal Resident.