High‑speed boat seized from trailer stuck in Minho River near Caminha

On 4 August 2026 a semi‑rigid trailer bearing a Spanish licence plate was found partially submerged in the ramp that leads to the Minho River at Lanhelas, in the municipality of Caminha, Portugal. Inside the trailer was a 14‑metre high‑speed boat equipped with three powerful engines, valued at more than €400 000.

The Portuguese Maritime Police, together with the Judicial Police, the National Republican Guard (GNR) and local volunteer firefighters, seized the vessel and opened an investigation. Authorities said the boat has characteristics often associated with logistics used by narcotics‑trafficking networks, but no drugs, arrests or confirmed links to criminal groups have been reported.

Port captain Fernando Vieira Pereira, commander of the Caminha port, said the trailer was likely attempting to launch or retrieve the boat when a problem occurred, causing the driver to abandon the vehicle. The investigation continues to determine the boat’s origin, intended destination and the cause of the incident, while work proceeds to remove the trailer and boat from the river.