Overview
- Portugal’s Polícia Judiciária and Navy located and stopped the vessel in the Atlantic near the Azores as part of Operation El Dorado.
- The operation included the Portuguese Air Force and international partners from the UK’s National Crime Agency, the U.S. DEA and JIATF‑South.
- Authorities confirmed four crew members were detained and said the shipment was bound for several European countries, without disclosing origin or precise landfall.
- Local outlets reported the detainees are Venezuelan nationals and were placed in preventive custody after court hearings on São Miguel, a detail not yet confirmed by police.
- Azores media also reported the cocaine was taken to Ponta Delgada and that the craft sank during towing, with the PJ set to provide further information on Tuesday.