Portugal Seizes Seven Tonnes of Cocaine on High Seas, Detains 10 Brazilians

Overview

• Police intercepted two fishing vessels in international waters about 2,000 km from Lisbon, near the Madeira area, under Operation Renascer.
• The action was coordinated by the Polícia Judiciária’s anti‑trafficking unit after MAOC‑N intelligence and deployed the Navy, Maritime Authority and Air Force.
• Authorities say the cocaine was loaded off Brazil and the interception was timed to prevent transfer to faster boats bound for Europe.
• Ten Brazilian nationals were detained and are to appear at the Judicial Court of Funchal for initial interrogation and coercive measures, with a PJ briefing announced for Saturday.
• The investigation includes cooperation with Brazil’s Federal Police, the U.S. DEA and JIATF West, and the U.K.’s NCA, and Brazilian officials said the vessels departed Santa Catarina.