Smugglers dump 5,000 kg of hashish into Guadiana River

During a high-speed pursuit on the Guadiana River, which forms part of the border between Spain and Portugal, smugglers discarded approximately five tons of hashish into the water. The suspects used a semi-rigid speedboat equipped with four powerful outboard motors to attempt an escape from Spanish and Portuguese authorities.

To increase speed and lighten the vessel, the occupants threw 127 packages overboard. While the suspects managed to reach the coast, abandon their boat, and flee on foot, joint operations by the Spanish Guardia Civil, the Portuguese Guarda Nacional Republicana, and the Portuguese maritime police successfully recovered the discarded cargo. The speedboat has been seized.

This interception coincided with broader anti-drug operations along the Portuguese coast. In separate actions, authorities seized approximately 10,000 liters of fuel, vehicles, and two Kalashnikov rifles used to supply drug traffickers. While one individual was arrested in Esposende, several other suspects managed to evade capture.