Maritime drug trafficking interceptions in Portugal

Portuguese authorities have conducted separate maritime interceptions of high-speed vessels suspected of involvement in drug trafficking operations.

In Caminha, a joint operation between the Portuguese judicial police and the Spanish Guardia Civil followed an attempt by a vessel to enter the Minho River. After failing to enter, the crew intentionally ran the boat aground on Moledo Beach and abandoned it. One foreign national was detained after a small amount of drugs was recovered from him.

In a subsequent operation in the Tagus estuary, a joint maritime inspection involving the Maritime Police, the Portuguese Navy, and the Portuguese Air Force led to the interception of a high-speed vessel, described as a ‘narcolancha’. Eleven individuals, including nationals from Spain, Guyana, and Suriname, were detained. Authorities seized the vessel and various supplies, including communication equipment, food, and fuel, which were allegedly intended to support the logistics of international criminal organizations.

This operation in the Tejo estuary underscores the scale of maritime narcotics trafficking, which Interior Minister Luís Neves has identified as a “primary threat to national security.” Recent data from 2025 indicates an increase in drug-related crimes and seizures within the country.