PJ seizes 197 kg of cocaine hidden in ship's hull at Portuguese port
The Judicial Police confiscated 197 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in the hull of a commercial vessel as part of "Operation Courage". No arrests have yet been made.
Cocaine transported in ship's hull seized at Portuguese port
The Judicial Police seized, on Saturday, 197 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in the hull of a commercial ship that docked at a Portuguese port, according to observador.pt. The operation, named "Operation Courage", was conducted by the National Unit for Combating Drug Trafficking (UNCTE) and took place under international police cooperation.
The ship's port of arrival and port of origin were not disclosed by the authorities, as the investigation remains ongoing.
The drug was concealed using the method known as "Sea Chest", which involves divers attaching fibreglass pouches to the vessel's hull. The waterproof bags are removed in the same manner at destination ports, by opening the external grilles of the compartment. The technique allows for Atlantic Ocean crossings without the knowledge or involvement of crews, as the illicit cargo remains submerged throughout the voyage.
The Judicial Police stressed that this method of operation "is already well known and has been increasingly used by various criminal organisations seeking to ensure the anonymity of their members and guarantee greater security in drug transport, thereby attempting to avoid port inspections".
To locate and remove the cocaine, the authorities relied on the Maritime Police's Forensic Diving Group, which carried out underwater inspection of the ship's hull.
The PJ gathered evidence that prompted the development of various lines of investigation, with the aim of gathering proof and halting the ongoing illicit activity. To date, no arrests have been made under "Operation Courage", and investigations continue to establish the contours of the criminal network involved.
Source: Google News PT — Crime (pt)