Portugal, with its extensive coast and exclusive economic zone, is a strategic gateway to drug trafficking in Europe. Authorities face increasing challenges due to the sophistication of criminal networks.
Maritime police seized this week Two high -speed speedboats on the Tagus Riverused by drug trafficking networks. The vessels transported 22 tons of fuelan essential resource for feeding the transatlantic transport circuits of souls.
According to the authorities, Narcotrafficking operations are increasingly complexsince criminal networks have been investing strongly in technology and logistics.
With about 2,500 kilometers of coast and one of the largest Exclusive economic zones From the world, Portugal is a strategic gateway to drug trafficking in Europebecoming increasingly appetizing for international drug networks.
Combat actions involve several security forces, but it is the Maritime police that assumes a prominent role. This week, he again starred in a significant apprehension in the Tagus, preventing two narcotics supplied with thousands of liters of fuel from being used.
The most critical moment of these operations is the interception of vessels by the Tactical Action Group. Agents work on the day and night, high speed, often in adverse weather conditions.
These highly profitable networks operate with Complex logistics chains and have been betting on hiring specialized labor and the use of advanced technologies, which represents a increasing challenge for authorities.
A new step in combating this reality is about to advance: The government approved this month a proposal to regulate the use of quick speedboatsas it has the support of the Maritime Police.
In the last year, the Maritime Police carried out More than 50 thousand inspection actionswhich resulted in the seizure of 14 fast speedboats and almost six tons of drugs.
