Portuguese drug dealers had a marketing strategy: “treasure hunt” with free drugs

They had groups on encrypted apps with a thousand followers. They sent orders by CTT mail across the country and even did “geocaching” to promote the products.

Customers paid for products via MBWay, and received them at home, through orders sent by CTT post office. Orders of hashish, marijuana, synthetic drugs or “magic mushrooms” were made via Instagram, Telegram or Wickr Me, says .

The trafficking group was made up of seven people, from Gaia, Porto, Gondomar and Braga, but only one was the leader of the digital marketing team: a Ermesinde plasterboard applicatorin Valongo, which invested in innovative marketing campaigns.

In addition to the strong presence on social media, where in some groups they had around a thousand followers, the team focused on promoting the product through “geocaching“, a type of guidance that consists of a “treasure hunt” outdoor. Whoever reached the “treasury” first got a free dose.

There were even promotions: there was a minimum order value of 35 to 50 euros, but loyal customers received discounts.

In Instagram groups, the person responsible for digital marketing used this medium to “continue the marketing activity purchase and sale of narcotic products globallythus reaching thousands of users, buyers, consumers and followers”, explains the Public Ministry, cited by JN.

On Instagram, the group’s name was “GR33NL4ND” or “KBCA420”, and on Telegram “Douro Verde” and on Wickr Me it is called “VerOuroVerde”, “Caminhada 1”, “OuroVerde”, “noir321”. These groups served as catalog of products available for sale.

The network, now dismantled, when it was approached by the police on social media disappeared and it was impossible to be tracked, recorded or seized.

Now, the Public Prosecutor’s Office will order the liquidation of the defendants’ incongruous assets, which are believed to be have profited around 61 thousand euros with the trafficking network.