The Polícia Judiciária and the Portuguese Navy intercept a drug trafficking semi-submersible

In a concerted action between the PJ | Polícia Judiciária and the Portuguese Navy, an operation to combat drug trafficking by sea was carried out in recent days, during which they located and intercepted a semi-submersible, used by a transnational criminal organization, which was carrying more than 1.7 tons of cocaine, bound for the Iberian Peninsula.

Operation “El Dorado”, in which the Portuguese Air Force, the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), the French DNRED-Direction nationale du renseignement et des enquêtes douanières, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Joint Interagency Task Force South, both from the USA, participated, in addition to the PJ and the Navy, originated from information shared in the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) – MAOC (N).

On the vessel, intercepted in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, were four crew members, along with the narcotic product, which would have as its final destination several countries on the European continent.

The investigation, carried out by the National Unit for Combating Drug Trafficking of the PJ, continues in cooperation with the authorities of other countries.