Operation Dorica: Judicial Police detain nine suspects and seize 434 kg of cocaine in Caldas da Rainha
The Judicial Police dismantled an armed group involved in international drug trafficking in Caldas da Rainha, seizing 434 kg of cocaine and four AK-47s.
Nine arrested and 434 kilograms of cocaine seized in anti-narcotics operation
The Judicial Police detained nine men in Caldas da Rainha as part of an investigation into international drug trafficking by sea, it was announced on Thursday. According to Observador, the "Dorica" operation, conducted by the National Drug Trafficking Combat Unit (UNCTE), succeeded in dismantling a group described by the PJ as "heavily armed".
434 kilograms of cocaine were seized, transported in high-speed vessels. The drug originated in Latin America and, according to the PJ, "was introduced into Portugal following the creation of a secure logistics network and structure, which allowed its reception, storage and subsequent distribution".
The detainees are all male, aged between 24 and 50 years, and have Albanian, Moroccan, Brazilian, Spanish, Italian and Lithuanian nationalities. They were found inside the houses and vehicles used during the operation, pursuant to arrest warrants.
The PJ emphasises that "the moment of approach towards the suspects proved to be intensely dangerous, as some of them were wielding submachine guns that they attempted to use, only failing to do so due to effective police action". In addition to the 434 kilograms of cocaine, four AK-47 submachine guns were seized, a lorry, a light vehicle, communication equipment and image capture and recording systems.
The investigation benefited from international police cooperation. The PJ states that "at the level of information exchange and within the framework of international police cooperation, it was possible to identify, develop and analyse information about the suspects who travelled to Portugal and proceed with their monitoring and surveillance, until the final moment when the main individuals responsible for the drug importation were detained".
The nine detainees will be heard on Thursday in a first judicial interrogation for the application of coercive measures, which may include pre-trial detention. Investigations continue to determine the network's connections and identify any further suspects.
Source: Observador