In a significant crackdown on international drug trafficking, the Portuguese Judicial Police, supported by the Portuguese Navy, intercepted a sailboat carrying approximately 1.6 tons of cocaine near the western group of the Azores archipelago. The vessel, measuring about 11 meters, was en route from South America to Europe across the Atlantic Ocean.
Operation Vikings: A Two-Year Investigation
This seizure is part of Operation "Vickings", a two-year investigation aimed at dismantling an international criminal organization involved in the large-scale introduction of cocaine into Europe. The operation highlights the collaborative efforts of various agencies, including the Portuguese Air Force, the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre-Narcotics (MAOC-N), the Ponta Delgada Maritime Police, and the Ponta Delgada Port Authority.
Arrests and Legal Proceedings
Three crew members aboard the sailboat, aged between 43 and 51 and of foreign nationality, were detained. They are set to appear before the Ponta Delgada Court for the application of coercive measures. This operation underscores the ongoing challenges and successes in combating transcontinental drug trafficking networks.
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