Two businessmen have been arrested on the south bank of the Tagus River on suspicion of international drug trafficking, the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) announced in a statement on Monday.
According to investigators, the detainees are partners in a company that imports products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
“The illicit substances,” which came from other European Union (EU) countries, arrived in Portugal and were packaged “using machines specifically acquired for this purpose and concealed inside various allegedly legitimate products to hide their true nature.”
Subsequently, the products were distributed within the national market and also exported to various international destinations.
The pair are thus suspected of having organized a “scheme with a transnational dimension.”
During the police operation, the PJ seized thousands of products processed by the suspects’ company, as well as a vehicle used in the criminal activity.
The suspects have since been detained and brought before a judge for an initial judicial hearing. Both have been subjected to identity and residence conditions and are prohibited from contacting the suppliers of the narcotics products.
The investigation continues under the direction of the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) of the Lisbon Northwest district in Sintra, “with a view to fully clarifying the facts and identifying any other potential parties involved.”
