Cocaine detected in Rio de Janeiro rivers amid rising trafficking in Portugal

A study by Fiocruz has detected the presence of cocaine and its primary metabolite, benzoylecgonine, in five rivers in Rio de Janeiro and its metropolitan area. The research, published in Aquatic Toxicology, involved monthly water sampling between July 2022 and June 2023. Most samples showed higher concentrations of the metabolite than cocaine, suggesting that sewage containing human waste is the primary source, though one instance suggested a potential drug disposal site. Researchers warned that these substances could cause neurological and cardiac issues in aquatic organisms.

In Portugal, authorities are facing a surge in cocaine trafficking via narcolanchas. Increased seizures of drugs, weapons, and fuel across regions such as Algarve and Sines indicate a structural entry of organized crime into the country. Analysts suggest that stricter detection methods in Northern European ports have pushed trafficking networks toward the Iberian Peninsula. There are calls for legislative updates to increase maximum penalties for fast-boat traffickers to allow for more effective preventive detention.