They belonged to a "quite powerful network", well organized and with "a very, very large financial power", but that did not prevent six men, of four different nationalities and aged between 24 and 62, from being arrested yesterday by the Judiciary Police, in Albufeira, as they were preparing to move around 1200 kilos of cocaine in a truck.
This was the result of an operation carried out by the Southern Directorate of the PJ, with the collaboration of the Portimão Criminal Investigation Department of this police force, which aimed to «dismantle a criminal group suspected of introducing large quantities of cocaine into the European market» .
Yesterday «in the afternoon», the PJ surprised the six men, «a Portuguese from the Lisbon area, an Italian, a Brazilian and three Croatians», in flagrante delicto, next to the truck where the drugs were packed, revealed today, Thursday , Fernando Jordão, responsible for the PJ's Southern Directorate.
These suspects had been monitored «for a few months», so the PJ knew, «at all times, where they were».
They were all caught next to the truck. «Logically, they were always here to control. The networks have to control the narcotic product, we are talking about very high amounts and of course they have to be close to the places where things are happening».
In addition to the approximately 1200 kilos, communication equipment, large amounts of money, documents and other objects were seized, with relevant interest for proving the facts under investigation.
The operation was based on «clear elements» that the PJ had previously collected.
“People were being investigated. And, therefore, yesterday was the opportune moment, so to speak, to approach the vehicle on land, a truck, which was transporting the drug», revealed Fernando Jordão.
According to the same official, the fact that there are detainees of various nationalities and even from different continents, “demonstrates well the dimension of this network. Above all, it also demonstrates the organization and all the logistical support behind this type of trafficking, given that this narcotic product originates in other latitudes, in other geographies».
«We are facing a very powerful network, in terms of logistics and control of the narcotic product, until it reaches the final markets and, above all, a network that has a very, very large financial power. We are talking about very large quantities», stressed the head of the PJ's Southern Directorate.
Once the arrest is made, the investigation will continue. «Right now we are precisely investigating, both upstream, that is, where the drug came from, and downstream, where he was going. We have, of course, some leads, but the investigation will continue».
What seems certain is that the drug would not stay in Portugal, which would only be «the gateway», even taking into account «the amounts we are talking about, 1200 kg of cocaine», which «certainly would not be for the Portuguese consumer market. When we talk about these quantities, they are normally for the European market».
The PJ, with the help of counterparts from other countries, will now try to understand the final destination of the drug, but also where it came from, as well as if there are more people involved.
The investigation is being conducted by the Central Department of Investigation and Penal Action, in Lisbon.
The detainees will be present for the first judicial interrogation, with a view to applying the coercive measures deemed appropriate.
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