Latest operation brings seizures tally up to 48 drug boats in less than two years
Two high-speed launches have been seized in international waters south of Portugal by the Navy and the Maritime Police on suspicion of drug trafficking, the Navy announced today.
In a post over social media, the Navy explained that “between November 27 and 29, the Navy and the Maritime Police carried out an operation in international waters to the south of Portugal, which resulted in the seizure of two high-speed boats suspected of being involved in drug trafficking, together carrying more than 300 fuel tanks.
“After being identified as suspects, they were pursued and intercepted by two high-speed boats, one manned by members of the Maritime Police’s Tactical Actions Group (GAT) and the other by marines. The operation was supported by an ocean patrol vessel, two speedboats and a Navy unmanned aerial vehicle (drone).
“The two suspect vessels were manned by nine individuals, six Spanish, one Moroccan, one Colombian and one French, aged between 22 and 54. The nine suspects were subjected to the necessary procedures for their identification and legal processing.
“The Navy, using resources from the Naval Command, and the Maritime Police, is continually carrying out anti-drug trafficking missions aimed at disrupting the illicit transport of narcotics. Since the beginning of 2023, they have identified 120 people and seized 48 high-speed boats with more than 33 tonnes of narcotics”, concludes the post.
News reports highlight the fact that Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Gouveia e Melo – soon to leave his post, and candidate for the job of President of the Republic – accompanied the operation.
The above photograph of the Admiral, on deck of one of the vessels involved in the mission, can be found on the Navy’s Facebook page.
One commentator has remarked “excellent coordination and collaboration at work”, while another (seemingly in the Navy himself) responds: “there is no coordination. What there is is a single COMMANDER. The COMMANDER OF THE NAVY is both the Chief of Staff of the Navy and the National Maritime Authority” (which is in fact the case). ND
Source: marinhaportuguesa
