Nearly one ton of drugs seized along Algarve coast in first weeks of 2025
Stormy weather and intensified coastal patrols have disrupted drug trafficking along the Algarve coast, leading to the seizure of nearly one ton of hashish throughout the first 10 days of 2025.
The drugs have been found on beaches or floating out at sea in several areas throughout the region, suggesting the cargo may have fallen overboard due to rough seas. While authorities increased their patrols at sea and along the coast, no arrests have been made.
Last week, the GNR police’s Coastal and Border Control Unit (UCCF) confiscated 93.6 kilograms of hashish that washed up at various beaches in the western Algarve. The first discovery occurred on Monday, January 6 at Rebolos/Burgau beach in Vila do Bispo, where a patrol spotted a suspicious burlap bale near the surf. Later that day, another bale was found on Mareta beach in Sagres, accompanied by a 25-litre jerry can of fuel. The following day (January 7), a third discovery was made at Vale da Lapa beach in Lagoa, where several packages containing narcotics were recovered.
An additional 21,400 doses of hashish were seized a day later (January 8) at Quinta do Lago beach in Loulé, where GNR police also found 11 jerrycans during routine patrols.
Another major haul was reported on Friday, January 10 in Portimão, where maritime police seized another 360 kilograms of hashish. The narcotics were recovered from the sea during routine coastal patrols, the National Maritime Authority (AMN) said in a statement, and later handed over to the PJ criminal police force.
On the same day, the GNR’s Olhão detachment of the UCCF made another significant seizure – nearly 500 kilograms of hashish found drifting in the sea between Faro and Armação de Pêra, bringing the total amount of hashish seized in just 10 days to almost one ton.
A day earlier (January 9), maritime police in Lagos had spotted a high-speed boat adrift approximately 10 kilometres southwest of Ponta da Piedade, the municipality’s famous coastal beauty spot. The operation was initiated following a tip-off from a local fisherman. Although no crew or drugs were found aboard, the vessel was towed ashore for further investigation.
Major onshore bust
A major drug bust also took place onshore in the Algarve since the turn of the year, leading to the arrest of four men and the confiscation of nearly 2,000 doses of cocaine on Tuesday, January 7 following a nearly 18-month investigation into a criminal network operating in the western Algarve (Barlavento).
The large-scale operation was carried out by GNR police’s Faro Territorial Command through the Portimão Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC) and focused on drug trafficking crimes committed in the municipalities of Portimão, Lagos and Lagoa.
Authorities executed six house searches and eight vehicle searches, resulting in the arrests of four men aged 30 to 41, the charging of a fifth man as a formal suspect, and the confiscation of significant evidence, including 1,996 doses of cocaine, 20 mobile phones, six gold items, and €3,680 in cash.
Each suspect was handed a different legal measure: one was held in preventive custody, while two were ordered to report to their nearest police station, one of them daily and the other weekly. The fourth suspect was identified and must remain reachable and available for judicial proceedings (Termo de Identidade e Residência).
