One of the speedboats intentionally collided with a Navy vessel in an attempt to escape
The Portuguese Navy and the National Maritime Authority (AMN) intercepted a high-speed boat and arrested four people suspected of drug trafficking in an operation off the southern coast of Portugal early this Thursday morning (October 31).
The operation, part of Portugal’s intensified crackdown on drug trafficking in international waters, saw authorities identify and pursue two suspicious speedboats.
According to authorities, one of the suspect vessels engaged in a dangerous manoeuvre, intentionally colliding with a Navy vessel in an attempt to escape. The collision injured one Navy servicemember and two of the suspects, but “none of the injuries are life-threatening,” the AMN says in a statement on its website.
All those injured were swiftly airlifted by the Portuguese Air Force to receive medical care. The remaining crew and the apprehended vessel are now under the custody of maritime police, and the suspects are expected to face judicial proceedings.
This morning’s operation is the latest in an ongoing battle against drug trafficking along Portugal’s southern coastline, where speedboats are often as means to transport drugs. Authorities report that, in 2023 alone, 11 people were arrested, and 42 speedboats carrying over 33 tons of drugs were in similar operations.
michael.bruxo@portugalresident.com
