GNR seizes 5.3 tonnes of hashish and detains seven men in the Algarve
The GNR detained seven foreign nationals and seized more than five tonnes of hashish in an operation near the Guadiana river, in the municipalities of Vila Real de Santo António and Castro Marim.
GNR operation on the Guadiana results in seven arrests and seizure of 2,133 packages of drugs
Google News PT — Crime (pt) reports that the GNR seized more than five tonnes of hashish and detained seven foreign men in an operation carried out on Saturday near the Guadiana river, in the Algarve. The detainees are aged between 21 and 39 years old.
The operation was conducted by the Coastal Control sub-unit of Vila Real de Santo António, in the municipalities of Vila Real de Santo António and Castro Marim, in the district of Faro. The GNR's Coastal and Border Control Unit released the details in a statement.
The alert came from the Spanish Guardia Civil, which detected suspicious movements near Costa Ezuri, in the Corte Velha area, in Azinhal, Castro Marim, in the vicinity of ruins in Portuguese territory. Following this, the GNR activated a surveillance and coastal control operation with land, maritime and aerial resources, with the aim of intercepting those involved and preventing drug trafficking by sea.
During the operation, some of the individuals spotted the presence of the military personnel and attempted to flee — first on foot, then in a light vehicle and in a vessel. The vehicle was intercepted without its occupants. The maritime resources managed to detain the seven men who were on board the fleeing vessel. The GNR also identified another man linked to the incident.
On Friday night, a maritime patrol of the UCCF had already attempted to board a suspicious vessel related to this operation. The vessel reacted hostilely to the presence of the military personnel and attempted to ram them, initiating a flight towards the Canela estuary, in Spanish territory. The military personnel prevented the ramming; the suspects fled on foot through Ayamonte marina and the vessel was seized.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 2,133 packages of cannabis resin, totalling approximately 5,320 kilogrammes, based on an average weight of 40 kilogrammes per package. Three vehicles, two vessels, a pistol with a magazine and ammunition, six mobile phones and more than 1,000 euros in cash were also seized.
The operation was reinforced with resources from the Faro Territorial Command and the Intervention Unit, with support from the Spanish Guardia Civil.
Source: Google News PT — Crime (pt)