The seized drug would have a street value of 6.6 million euros. The cocaine was hidden in legally purchased merchandise.
The Criminal Investigation Division of the Public Security Police (PSP) of Lisbon carried out an operation that resulted in the seizure of 200 kilos of cocaine in Alverca and other places in the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira. The action, which took place between Thursday and Friday, involved several arrests, details of which will only be released this Saturday, given the complexity of the case.
Cocaine, valued at more than 6.6 million euros in the illicit market, it was disguised as legally imported goods. The criminal group responsible was being investigated by the authorities, which led to the discovery of the drug at customs in Alverca. This customs terminal, one of the busiest in the country after Leixões, is responsible for controlling goods from non-European countries that enter Portugal by road.
On Friday, the operation intensified with searches of homes and warehouses associated with the group under investigation. These investigations allowed the seizure of more illicit substances and resulted in new arrests. Police sources indicate what this could be biggest apprehension of this kind carried out by PSP to date.
The seized substances are being analyzed at the Scientific Police Laboratory of the Judiciary Police (PJ) to confirm their composition and origin. The operation reinforces the strategic role of Alverca customs in combating drug trafficking, given the volume of goods that pass through its jurisdiction, covering 11 municipalities from the northern part of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
The authorities highlight the significant impact of this seizure on the fight against drug trafficking in Portugal and Europe, highlighting the cooperation between different police forces and technological advances in tracking suspicious goods. The PSP is expected to release more information about the case in the coming hours, including details about the detainees and the criminal group’s modus operandi.
