Portuguese authorities announced on Monday the seizure of nearly 3.5 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a shipment of bananas from Latin America. The operation took place in the port of Setúbal, located around 40 kilometers south of Lisbon, the judicial police said.
Concealment of drugs in cargo
The drugs were hidden in boxes of bananas, carefully stored on several pallets in the hold of a cargo ship providing regular service between Latin America and Europe. The coordinator of investigations of the Judicial Police, Vítor Ananias, explained to Portuguese media that the detection of cocaine was made possible thanks to the meticulous and prolonged work of investigators. “Given the large number of pallets carried on board, the task was remarkably complex,” he added.
According to initial information collected, the drug was intended to be distributed in several European countries.
So far, no arrests have been made, but the investigation is still ongoing. The Portuguese authorities are continuing their investigations to identify and apprehend those responsible for this large-scale drug trafficking attempt.
The head of the judicial police clarified, during an interview on CNN Portugal, that efforts are focused on highlighting the criminal networks involved and bringing them to justice.
