The operation, named ‘Special Skin’, commenced in July and culminated on Tuesday with the arrest of two suspects, including a former GNR officer who once commanded a detachment in the northern region. The officer had left active duty to focus on business pursuits.
During a press conference, the PJ disclosed that the 34-year-old officer had requested an extended leave “at the end of last year, beginning of this year” to pursue business ventures.
The suspect is a partner in an import company, serving as a front for trafficking cocaine destined “primarily” for the European market, already flagged by the PJ.
There is no indication so far that the ex-officer “used his role to gain privileged information.”
This operation, executed by the PJ’s Northern Directorate, stemmed from an investigation launched late last month, involving international cooperation with the DEA and CBP, and local collaboration with the Tax Authority and the Port of Leixões.
The cocaine, sourced from Latin America, was concealed in fresh animal skins transported in shipping containers.
“A nearly complete analysis by the Scientific Police Laboratory reveals about five million five hundred thousand individual daily doses [2,700 packages with high purity]. Rough estimates put the value above 30 million euros,” stated Inspector-Chief Josué Santos, coordinator of the PJ’s Drug Trafficking Investigation Section in the Northern Directorate.
The drug’s journey included approximately a month of sea transport before reaching a warehouse in Fafe, Braga district, by road, where the 34 and 42-year-old suspects were apprehended while awaiting distribution of the product.
“The skins traveled in a maritime container for about a month, followed by road transport to their final destination. The condition and odors made it challenging for the teams, providing a means to disguise and hide the merchandise,” Santos noted, acknowledging this seizure as one of the largest in the Northern region of the country.
As part of this operation, several seizures were made, including cars, motorcycles, firearms, and other evidence.
