AT customs inspectors suspected of turning blind eye to entry of cocaine shipments
PJ judicial police have been carrying out searches today in various ports on suspicion of corruption within the customs service, aimed at the entry of cocaine from Latin America into Europe.
In a statement, the force said “Operation Porthos” is investigating “the benefit of criminal organisations dedicated to the export of large quantities of cocaine from Latin America.
“These criminal organisations use national seaports as a gateway for narcotic products into the European continent, hidden in various products packed in containers”.
The investigation involves international police cooperation and suspicions of active and passive corruption, drug trafficking and money laundering.
According to CNN Portugal, the PJ suspects that AT (customs) employees have been bribed by Brazilian mafia “Primeiro Comando da Capital”, as well as Colombian cartels, to let the drugs pass through ports, without apprehension.
The operation is being carried out in the metropolitan area of Lisbon, in Setúbal, Sines and in Leiria and aims to execute 32 search warrants, of which 14 are residential and 18 are non-residential. According to the PJ statement, the search warrants are to “collect additional evidence”.
The swoop involves 150 inspectors and sundry ‘experts’ from the PJ, accompanied by four magistrates from the public prosecutions service.
The investigation will continue, within the scope of an inquiry led by the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP) of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Chairman of the board of directors of the Ports of Sines and Algarve (APS), José Luís Cacho, told Lusa that he had not had any “official knowledge of the operation” nor should he have had. Ports are “sensitive points, and prone to this kind of illicit activity”, he explained.“Unfortunately these things happen”.
Source material: LUSA
