Cocaine seizures in Portugal increase and reveal the country as a trafficking ‘hotspot’

Portugal surpassed the volume of cocaine seizures recorded in 2025, indicating a central role for the country in the drug route to the European market in 2026. This scenario raises serious concerns about security in the territory.

An extensive police operation, which involved a helicopter and agents rappelling onto a cargo ship, was recently launched more than a thousand kilometers off the Portuguese coast. The action revealed a complex international trafficking network.

The Judicial Police coordinated the attack, which received support from the Navy, Air Force and Spanish partners. The objective was to intercept five tons of cocaine transported by a vessel that had left Colón, Panama, with its final destination in Tangier, Morocco.

The intervention of security forces in Portugal was not in the plans of the criminal organization responsible for the shipment. With the recent seizure, the total amount of cocaine intercepted in the country in 2026 reached the mark of 28 tons, surpassing the 25 tons collected throughout 2025.

This growth shows that Portugal has become a strategic point for the entry of cocaine into Europe. The drug, originating in South America, often uses ports such as Matosinhos and Sines as crucial access points to the continent.

Gil Carvalho, former inspector of the Judiciary Police, noted that the interception of large volumes of narcotics has become a common occurrence. He recalled previous incidents, such as the discovery of a submarine with nine tons of cocaine near the Azores in early 2026.

This was not the first time that authorities recorded a seizure of this type. In March 2025, the Judiciary Police and the Navy had already intercepted another submarine, transporting seven tons of cocaine, also in the Azores region.

Former inspector Gil Carvalho highlighted that the quantities seized may be relative, as many gangs discard drugs at sea when they feel under persecution. He added that the magnitude of the recent seizure indicates detailed planning and vast financial and logistical capacity on the part of the network.

Sylvie Figueiredo, specialist in Strategic Security and Transnational Threats, assessed that the growth in seizures reinforces Europe’s position as a key market for cocaine. She described Portugal as a “logistical entry platform” for the drug on the continent.

The expert also highlighted that, although not the main one, Portugal acts as a genuine access point for the cocaine that supplies the European market.

Gil Carvalho argues that the increase in seizures reflects the greater effectiveness of the authorities, who have developed an improved understanding of the activities of criminal organizations. He pointed out that, despite the “high danger” and “high risk” involved, the operations have generated positive results due to the commitment of the Armed Forces and other bodies.

When asked about the impact of this series of incidents, Sylvie Figueiredo raised the possibility that Portugal is no longer just a logistical route, but also a deployment territory for the operations of these criminal organizations.

According to her, the country is already approaching this stage, with the movement of stages of cocaine production to Portugal and other European nations, characterizing a “transfer of part of the manufacturing process”.

Authorities confirmed this trend by locating approximately twelve laboratories dedicated to finishing the drug, indicating that cocaine arrives in a raw state to be processed into powder within Portuguese territory, a phenomenon observed in several European Union countries.

Sylvie Figueiredo warned that “the threat is very serious” and needs constant attention. She reiterated that, despite the authorities’ good performance, consumer market demand prevents the flow of narcotics from being significantly affected, describing the situation as “a war that has escalated to other dimensions.”

Gil Carvalho agreed with the competence of the security forces, but highlighted that large seizures like this also suggest that “many others have already passed” without being discovered.

The authorities’ next step involves connecting the confiscated drug to a specific criminal network, which will enable a more in-depth understanding of the extent of these groups’ operations in Portugal.

Regarding these investigations, Sylvie Figueiredo recognized the existence of a complex “criminal ecosystem”, composed of “various types of actors” interconnected.

She stated that production is increasingly diversified, without the predominance of large cartels, and that there is a proliferation of agents in both supply and distribution in Europe. Figueiredo added that the ability to introduce the product by “legal means” is considerable.

The expert concluded that the company that owned the container ship was probably unaware of the illicit cargo. This is because “criminal experts” are able to infiltrate and operate at different phases of the logistics process.