SEVEN SPANISH men have received between seven and 12 years in prison for being in possession of a total of eight tonnes of cocaine in various locations around southern Portugal.
The men were sentenced by Judge Alda Casimiro in Silves court on June 27 after being caught on February 17 last year in possession of the drug cocaine.
On that day, the Polícia Judiciaria (PJ) intercepted a lorry on its way to Spain on the A2 near Grândola, which contained 2.5 tonnes of cocaine. Around 5,750 tonnes were also later recovered in a warehouse in Vale da Lama, Silves, with the rest having been found in two vehicles, a Volvo and a Rover.
A PJ agent had infiltrated the gang and this, the court heard, played a major part in the successful outcome of the case. “They acted deliberately, knowing that they were transporting drugs,” said the judge, adding: “there are no indications that it was the infiltrated PJ elements who made them carry out the criminal act.”
The defence lawyer, Hernâni Lacerda, said that the men will be appealing against the ruling.
“I am not satisfied,” he said. “When it comes to drugs cases, it seems that anything is allowed except ripping eyes out.”
Hernâni Lacerda believes the sentences should have been lighter as none of the men had criminal histories and they had become involved with a criminal network led by a Colombian man living in Madrid.
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