Today, the trial of six men begins, suspected of drug trafficking and involvement in the transport of 1.2 tons of cocaine seized in 2023, in Albufeira.
The defendants are suspected of belonging to an international drug trafficking network and were arrested in March 2023, following a police operation that led to the seizure of 1,200 kilograms of cocaine that were being transported in a truck. In addition to the drugs, the Judicial Police (PJ) seized the heavy vehicle used to transport the cocaine, “communication equipment, large amounts of cash, documents and other objects”, relevant to proving the facts under investigation.
The detainees have Brazilian, Croatian, Italian and Portuguese nationality and are aged between 24 and 62. They are being tried for the crimes of aggravated drug trafficking and criminal association, suspected of “introducing large quantities of cocaine into the European market” from South America and for belonging to “a very powerful network” that allegedly had a logistical base in the Algarve and Portugal as a “gateway” for subsequent distribution in Europe.
The investigation was led by the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP), in Lisbon.
After their arrest, the six men were taken to the Central Criminal Investigation Court in Lisbon, where they were remanded in custody.
Source https://postal.pt/ - photo by Paulo Costa
