Portuguese authorities have carried out a record narco-submarine cocaine seizure in the Atlantic Ocean, intercepting a semi-submersible vessel approximately 230 nautical miles (426 km) from the Azores. Nearly nine tonnes of cocaine were seized during the operation, making it the largest cocaine seizure ever recorded in Portugal, according to the country’s judicial police. The vessel was travelling from Latin America toward Europe and had four crew members onboard, including three Colombians and one Venezuelan, all of whom were arrested.
Joint maritime operation under difficult weather conditions
The interception was conducted in recent days with the support of the Portuguese Navy and Air Force, in coordination with U.S. and British law enforcement authorities. The operation took place in extremely challenging weather conditions, significantly increasing the risks for the boarding teams. During the interception, the semi-submersible vessel eventually sank, taking 35 of the 300 cocaine bales it was carrying to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Strategic role of the Azores in Atlantic drug trafficking routes
Authorities stressed that the seizure highlights the growing use of narco-subs along transatlantic trafficking routes, particularly near strategic maritime areas such as the Azores. The operation underlines the importance of maritime surveillance, intelligence sharing, and multinational cooperation in countering large-scale cocaine smuggling operations targeting Europe via the Atlantic corridor.
