An international anti-drug operation has led to the capture of a submarine carrying 6.5 tons of cocaine in the waters off Portugal, reports Gazeta Sinjali.
The operation, coded “Nautilus,” was successfully carried out, resulting in the seizure of the advanced technology-equipped vessel, which had departed from South America.
According to Portuguese authorities, the submarine is suspected to belong to Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), one of the most powerful and violent criminal groups in Latin America. The presence of this cartel in Portugal has significantly increased in recent years.
It remains unclear whether the final destination of the cocaine was the port of Sines in Portugal or if traffickers intended to distribute the narcotic in smaller quantities at sea to be sent to other European countries.
The five crew members, who have already been arrested, are Brazilian, Colombian, and Spanish nationals. They have been interrogated by investigators and are expected to face serious charges for international drug trafficking.
This operation comes shortly after the arrest of Gabriel Martinez Sousa, a Brazilian trafficker suspected of controlling a network of divers who recovered drugs from boats and ships in open waters.
