Multiple arrests have been made following a series of raids made by an international law enforcement operation. Over the past few months, numerous actions have been made in Brazil, Spain and Portugal to put a stop d find the members of this large professional criminal syndicate. This operation was supported by the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).
On May 4, coordinated raids were done in Spain and Portugal. This raid includes 20 house searches made in Spain (Málaga, Cordoba, Madrid, Cantabria, Vizcaya) and four in Portugal (Cascais and Sintra). Over 73 kilos of methamphetamine, five firearms and over 116 000 EUR in cash were found and seized. These finds resulted in 24 arrests being made in addition to seven other members of the same gang being arrested earlier in Spain, Portugal and Brazil. Due to the nature of the bust, the information was not made immediately to the public.
These arrests follow the seizure of 800 kilos of cocaine found hidden in a container of frozen acai berries in June of 2022. Initially from Brazil, this container was seized at the port of Sines, Portugal.
The criminal syndicate of Brazil had direct contact with cocaine producers based in Brazil and other South American source countries. They were responsible for handling the cocaine in maritime containers going to specific European ports. In August 2022, Europol brought investigators from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to devise a joint strategy to stop the network.
The thriving billion-dollar illicit drug trade continues to ravage lives and tear families apart, despite the legalization of most drugs, including hard substances, within the European Union. It is a stark reminder of the enduring presence and devastating impact of criminal networks and enterprises, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive measures to combat this destructive trade and protect our communities.
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