Seven men, aged between 19 and 48, were arrested and several war-grade weapons were seized in the early hours of Tuesday during a coastal surveillance and control operation near Praia do Amado, in Carrapateira, Aljezur.
The operation, carried out by GNR police’s Coastal and Border Control Unit (UCCF), also led to the seizure of three vehicles and the cache of firearms, including an AK-47, an M4 automatic rifle, a CETME-L, and another assault rifle adapted from AR-15/M4 models. Officers also recovered over 100 rounds of ammunition.
The operation began when night surveillance systems detected a high-speed boat moving slowly toward shore under suspicious circumstances, GNR police say in a statement. At the same time, three vehicles were spotted heading to the beach area, in an apparent attempt to receive cargo or people.
Once signs of an offloading were confirmed, UCCF officers, backed by an intervention team from Faro, moved in to intercept the suspects.
The case has been referred to PJ criminal police and the Lagos Judicial Court, where the seven men will appear before a judge for precautionary measures.
According to GNR, the operation underlines its commitment to tackling organised cross-border crime and strengthening security along Portugal’s maritime frontiers, acting in an “integrated and coordinated way to neutralise criminal networks that use the Portuguese coast as a platform for illicit activities.”
