Overview
- Police and navy units boarded the semi-submersible about 1,000 nautical miles from Lisbon during Operation El Dorado.
- Authorities seized more than 1.7 tonnes of cocaine believed bound for European markets, with Spain cited as a main entry point.
- The crew comprised two Ecuadorians, one Venezuelan and one Colombian, all placed in pretrial detention after a court hearing in the Azores.
- The vessel could not be towed due to rough seas and weak construction and later sank in open waters after the seizure.
- The operation drew on MAOC-N intelligence and involved Portugal’s air force along with the UK’s NCA and the US DEA and JIATF South, with PJ leading ongoing investigations.