Boat suspected of being used for trafficking seized off the Algarve

A high-speed vessel, suspected of being used for drug trafficking, was seized this Thursday, January 11th, off the Algarve. 

The operation, which brought together the Navy and the National Maritime Authority, took place 45 nautical miles, the equivalent of around 83 kilometers, south of Portugal.

The boat had “several dozen drums of fuel” on board, authorities say.

The vessel was crewed by three men (two Moroccans and one Spanish), aged between 23 and 57, and was “identified and pursued by two high-speed vessels, one manned by Maritime Police agents and the other by Marines.” , with “two Navy ships” also being used.

The suspects were “subject to the necessary identification procedures and consequent formalities of legal processing”.

The National Maritime Authority, through the Maritime Police, and the Navy, using resources from the Naval Command, continually carry out missions to combat drug trafficking, having since the beginning of 2023 detained 90 people and seized 36 high-speed vessels with approximately of 33 tons of drugs.