Three tonnes of cocaine seized in Olhão

GNR police have seized more than three tonnes of cocaine in a major drug swoop near Olhão.

The seizure was made during an overnight operation launched by the GNR’s Coastal Control Unit after the Integrated Surveillance, Command and Control System (SIVICC) detected a high-speed boat approaching the coast between Faro and Olhão on Friday night.

Suspecting a maritime drug trafficking operation, the GNR deployed land, sea and air units to monitor the area and intercept those involved.

During the land operations, officers identified a light commercial van approaching a beach where the speed boat had been spotted. When ordered to stop, the occupants drove off, later abandoning the vehicle and escaping on foot through nearby scrubland.

The speedboat also managed to flee before being apprehended.

Thus, police were left with the contents of the van (91 bales of cocaine weighing an estimated 3,130 kilograms), two signal-jamming devices (found inside the vehicle, and believed to have been used to interfere with communications and reduce the risk of detection), as well as the vehicle itself.

No arrests have yet been made.

Lieutenant Marina Prazeres told SIC Notícias the investigation remains ongoing.

“The case files will be forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the narcotics handed over to the Judicial Police,” she said.

The operation was reinforced by officers from the GNR’s Faro Territorial Command. Responsibility for the criminal investigation will now pass to Portugal’s Judicial Police (PJ), which specialises in organised crime and major drug trafficking cases.

In spite of the fact that none of the suspects were caught, the drugs’ seizure represents one of the largest cocaine interceptions in Portugal this year. It also highlights the continued use of the Algarve coastline by international trafficking networks, even though they must all be aware by now that authorities are monitoring suspicious activity comprehensively – ready to react on all fronts within minutes.

Image – GNR

Source material: Jornal de Notícias/ SIC Notícias

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.