Traffickers arrested with 1.2 tons of cocaine in Albufeira are in custody – Portugal

the six men arrested on Wednesday in Albufeira on suspicion of drug traffickingin an operation that led to the seizure of 1.2 tons of cocaine, were held in custody, the Public Ministry (MP) said this Friday.

According to a note released this Friday by the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DCIAP), which directs the investigation with the support of the Southern directorate of the Judiciary Police (PJ), the six defendants appear for the first judicial interrogation at the Central Court of Criminal Instruction, in Lisbon, in which the heaviest measure of coercion was applied to them, as requested by the MP.

In addition to the seizure of more than a ton of cocaine, the authorities also seized around one million euros in cash, a heavy goods vehicle, other objects and documents.

The six detainees have different nationalities (Portuguese, Brazilian, Croatian and Italian) and are suspected of the crimes of aggravated drug trafficking and criminal association.

“There are indications that the detainees are part of an international criminal organization dedicated to transporting large quantities of cocaine by sea from South America, where it is produced, to Europe, with entry through Portugal”, can be read in the press release.

According to information released by the PJ on Thursday at a press conference, the group belongs to “a very powerful network” and that would have a logistical base in the Algarve, with Portugal being a “gateway” for subsequent distribution in Europe.

“We are, in fact, facing a very powerful network, both in terms of logistics and control of the narcotic product itself, until it reaches the final markets and, above all, a network that has a very, very large financial power to be able to have access to these quantities”, said the head of the PJ’s Southern board, Fernando Jordão.

According to Fernando Jordão, it is also being investigated whether this network has connections to others operating in the country, possibly with the groups that have been increasing hashish trafficking off the Algarve.