Trafficking has allegedly been running since 2020
Portugal’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has accused 13 people and a company of bringing cocaine hidden in containers and vessels into the country through the port of Leixões, in Matosinhos, (Porto district)
Porto’s Regional Attorney General’s Office has announced the accusation on its official website today, saying that of the 14 defendants, two – a diver and the person allegedly responsible for importing the drug – requested the opening of an investigation, citing procedural and evidence validity nullities and a lack of consistent evidence.
However, the Porto’s Criminal Investigation Court has sent all defendants to trial in the exact terms of the indictment, charging them with the crimes of criminal association, drug trafficking, possession of a prohibited weapon and money laundering.
According to the accusation, the main defendant – said to be the drug importer from Brazil – has been importing drugs from that country since 2020, together with another man, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
During the investigation, in May 2023, 78 kilos of cocaine were seized in the Port of Leixões, hidden in a compartment of the vessel inside the hull, with the collaboration of other defendants.
And, on October 16, 2023, another 91 kilos of cocaine were seized hidden in a container, also in Leixões, a situation that had the collaboration of port employees, who are named defendants and who are considered to have acted in exchange for money (€10,000 and €40,000).
The quantity of seized drugs allowed for the production of 1,188,279 individual doses and had a final street value of around €4.2 million, adds the accusation.
“The connections between the defendants and the money circuits implemented to dissipate the proceeds of crime involved buying and selling vehicles, real estate investments and the use of bank accounts associated with the defendant company and commercial establishments (restaurant and barber shop) operated by the defendants,” says the charge sheet.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested the forfeiture of the seized drugs, money, cars, boat and weapons and, with regards to four defendants, “an incongruent asset worth €181,000”.
This news follows a lot of exposure on the level of drug trafficking into Portugal, from Brazil, and the criminal connections involved.
source material: Lusa
