The National Republican Guard (GNR) arrested 15 individuals on July 9 for drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons in the municipalities of Vila Nova de Gaia, Maia, Paços de Ferreira, and Lousada.
In a statement released this Saturday, the security force stated that among the detainees are 12 men and one woman, aged between 17 and 45, suspected of drug trafficking. Two other men have been named as defendants for the same crime, and two additional men, aged 18 and 55, were detained for illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.
“In the context of a drug trafficking investigation, the Guard’s officers conducted investigative efforts that led to the dismantling of an organized drug trafficking network operating in the mentioned municipalities,” the security force revealed.
During this investigation, the GNR conducted 29 searches, including 16 at residences, 12 in vehicles, and one workshop, which resulted in the suspects’ arrest in the act and the seizure of 9,365 doses of hashish; 600 doses of cocaine; 330 doses of MDMA; 200 doses of cannabis; 144 doses of ‘speed’; eight LSD stamps; 60.86 grams of mushrooms; 0.53 grams of ketamine; 44,625 euros in cash; one firearm; seven rounds of ammunition; eight vehicles; one computer; one tablet; 18 mobile phones; nine scales; and one electronic note counting machine.
The detainees will be brought before the Penafiel Court for the first judicial questioning to apply coercive measures.
Over 40 Arrested Following Three-Year Investigation
This week, the GNR, in collaboration with the Spanish Guardia Civil, dismantled a drug trafficking network operating across eight districts of mainland Portugal and southern Spain.
The security force revealed in a statement that 49 people were arrested, 32 of them in national territory.
In addition to the arrests, authorities seized seven tons of hashish, 650 kg of cocaine, 18 high-speed boats, estimated at around 8 million euros, 40 high-power engines valued at approximately 2.5 million euros, 780,000 euros in cash, 11 firearms, and 24 motor vehicles.
The operation, conducted by the GNR’s Special Operations Intervention Group, had been underway for 38 months.
The national operation was reinforced by personnel from the Emergency, Protection, and Relief Unit, the Coastal and Border Control Unit, the Fiscal Action Unit, and eight Territorial Commands of the GNR, besides support from the National Institute of Medical Emergency.
Natacha Nunes Costa | 08:30 – 11/07/2025
