In the operation that took place 800 kms from Portugal, the Judicial Police have detained the 17 crew. Drug was hidden in a tank

The action was in the style of a Hollywood movie. At the request of the Judicial Police, a Navy Corvette went to the south of Morocco, in the Atlantic Ocean, between Casablanca and Agadir, 800 kms from Portugal, carrying a group of special operatives.

The Marines boarded a speedboat, approached the freighter, climbing on board. With the Marines on board, the 17 crew members – Indians and Pakistanis – did not offer any resistance, which allowed the anti-narcotics team of the Judicial Police to enter the freighter and make the arrests. None of the alleged traffickers were armed.

The intervention took place the night of Thursday to Friday (26^th/27^th October 2017) and the ship is now in the custody of the PJ. The only cargo on board the 115-meter freighter with the Comoros flag, was 1130 kg of cocaine with the packages bearing the Hugo Boss logo. The drug was hidden in the underside of the ship, in an empty ballast tank (they usually receive ballast water to maintain vessel stability).

“This was also the result of an exchange of information within the framework of the MAOC-N – Maritime Analysis and Operations Center-Narcotics, which is based in Lisbon,” said DN Joaquim Pereira, director of the Unit for Combating Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs (UNCTE) of the PJ, who yesterday explained to the press the operation, flanked by commanders Carvalho Pinto, director of the naval operations center of the Navy and Bernardo da Costa, Air Force spokesman FA). The monitoring of the ship was undertaken by the Air Force.

The drugs would be worth around 50 million euros (bills made at 45 euros a gram of cocaine) but after treating the cocaine would be worth three times more than that, said those responsible.

Other articles and events

• Addressing the shortage of water in the Algarve
• Marcelo praises health professionals and National Health Service marking 41 years
• GNR starts operation to inspect dangerous goods transport
• Council of Ministers – Measures Presented by the Prime Minister
• COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING TODAY TO DETERMINE SITUATION OF CONTINGENCY MEASURE TOBE INTROFUCED 15TH SEPTEMBER
• TWELVE THOUSAND PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW IF THEY ALREADY HAD COVID-19
• Covid-19: Epidemic situation has worsened in Portugal since mid-August
• GNR operation Travelling Safely concludes today
• Marcelo expected 100 cases of covid-19 or less per day in early September
• Safe Communities Crime Prevention and Enforcement Report 4th September 2020
• Peniche – 21 infractions detected in inspection of illegal camping
• NEW E-GATES AT FARO AIRPORT SPEED UP IMMIGRATION PROCESSING TIMES
• 20% of arsonists detained this year were repeat offenders. What is failing in control?
• MEDAL FOR HERO DOG KUNO WHO SAVED SOLDIERS LIVES IN AFGAHANISTAN
• The entire country will enter a contingency state starting on September 15.