The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) announced on Wednesday the arrest of two men in the Fafe area, one a former military member of the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), who are strongly suspected of international drug trafficking. Authorities seized one and a half tons of cocaine concealed within animal hides.
The arrests were part of a police operation initiated by the PJ’s Northern Directorate following an inquiry started in July, conducted in close cooperation with the American agencies DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and CBP (Customs and Border Protection), as well as the Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira (ATA), according to a statement.
The investigation was prompted by the activities of a company that imported three containers of animal hides from Latin America.
Suspecting the containers could be used for transporting illicit substances, the PJ requested the ATA’s assistance in inspecting them at the Port of Leixões, which confirmed the suspicions with a significant amount of cocaine found among the animal hides.
With continued monitoring of the containers, the PJ tracked their removal from the port area to a warehouse in Fafe, where the two suspects were detained during the unloading and storing process.
The detained men, aged 34 and 42, are linked to the company that imported the goods, which is under suspicion for involvement in the criminal operation. One detainee is a former GNR military member, currently on long-term leave.
Under this operation, the PJ seized several items, including cars, motorcycles, firearms, and other evidence.
The detainees will be presented to the competent judicial authorities at the Criminal Instructions Court of Porto for preliminary questioning and application of coercive measures.
