Portugal, Spain bust narco-boat network
A significant joint operation by Portugal's National Republican Guard (GNR) and Spain's Civil Guard has successfully dismantled the largest drug-smuggling boat network in the Iberian Peninsula, based in Portugal. This operation, which followed a three-year investigation, resulted in 49 arrests—32 in Portugal and 17 in Spain—primarily involving nationals from both countries, along with two Venezuelans and one Dominican.
The criminal organization, located near the mouth of the Tagus River, specialized in constructing high-speed semi-rigid boats used for smuggling cocaine and hashish into Spain. Coordinated raids conducted between July 7 and July 11 led to the seizure of 19 narco-boats, 18 of which were confiscated in Portugal, valued at approximately €8 million. Additionally, law enforcement recovered 650 kg of cocaine and over 7 tonnes of hashish, along with stolen vehicles, firearms, and other assets totaling more than €36 million.
Investigators revealed that the network was capable of launching up to three high-speed boat departures in a single night, prompting traffickers to shift their smuggling routes from the Strait of Gibraltar to areas like the Guadiana River and the Portuguese border. This operation marks a significant disruption to narco-trafficking logistics in the region, highlighting how traffickers exploited Portugal's more lenient manufacturing laws to produce fast boats for smuggling operations.
Moving forward, law enforcement agencies will continue to address the aftermath of the arrests, dismantling any remaining elements of the network and monitoring emerging smuggling routes. Policymakers may also consider tightening regulations on speedboat manufacturing in Portugal to eliminate existing legal loopholes that traffickers have exploited.
