This year alone, 17 tonnes of hash has been seized in the Algarve

By Pedro Lemos • September 17, 2020 - 14:34

Seizure in Quarteira resulted from "an exemplary joint work between the Maritime Police and the Judiciary Police"

António Madureira – Photo: Flávio Costa | Sul Informação

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«Around 17 tons of hashish» have already been seized, this year, in the Algarve, revealed this Thursday, 17 September, António Madureira, director of the PJ of Faro, after another arrest, this time in Quarteira.

To journalists, the head of the Judiciary Police in the Algarve said that, in addition to the arrests, "26 people" were detained.

"Most of them were in preventive detention and this is an effort we are making in the fight against drug trafficking, mainly by sea, which is something that has been worrying us," he added.

Since the beginning of this week alone, 2511 kilos of hash have been learned, to a drug trafficking network that operated in several municipalities, 2,5 tons into the Guadiana River, dropped by a boat, and these 4500 kilos in Quarteira.

António Madureira's statements were made at a press conference in Faro concerning the seizure of this drug, in the fishing port of Quarteira, which took place last Tuesday, 15 September.

The action resulted "from an exemplary joint work between the Maritime Police and the Judiciary Police", and the warning was given "by people who were in the fishing port".

At the time, in addition to the seizure of the drug and the boat, two Spanish men were arrested, but the PJ's investigation has already allowed the collection of "evidence that led us to another individual, arrested on Tuesday."

Asked by journalists whether this third person is linked to the Maritime Police, António Madureira only said that the PJ "never identifies the people it detains and that we suspect that they have committed crimes." "We investigate facts and try to track down and catch whoever committed them, whoever they are," he reiterated.

What is certain is that the boat, carrying 4,5 tons of hashish, was seized in a fishing port, a place that is under surveillance. And is there any idea how access was achieved? António Madureira was laconic: «the investigation is continuing, we cannot give too many details in relation to this».

Rocha Pacheco, commander of the Southern Maritime Zone, also said that he cannot "factually affirm that there is an element of the Maritime Police detained as a result of this operation."

“I cannot say because I have no formal knowledge that there is a member of the Maritime Police detained following this action. This operation was successful, that's what I can say», stressed Rocha Pacheco.

And if confirmed, what consequences will there be? "This will be a process that will have to be evaluated and will run its course," he replied.

As for the investigation by the Judiciary Police, it will "continue", not excluding that "there are new arrests, new links to other cases and that we will not have developments", concluded António Madureira.

Photos: Flavio Costa | Sul Informação