The GNR in Olhão seized 1,500 kilos of hashish in the Ria Formosa yesterday, after the Maritime Police removed 32 kilos of amphetamines from the sea on Terra Estreita beach, in Tavira on Monday.
In Olhão, a vessel carrying 1,500 kg of hashish was intercepted by the GNR, with the suspects fleeing upon noticing the patrol.
According to the GNR, “during a patrol and surveillance action on the coast by the Maritime Patrol Section of that Subunit, with the support of the Integrated Surveillance, Command and Control System (SIVICC), the Guard's military personnel detected suspicious movements south of Armona Island, through SIVICC”.
Following this detection, “the maritime team was immediately activated, which intercepted and seized a shipment already inside the Ria Formosa, with 20 bales of burlap containing hashish and 20 jerrycans,” said the security force.
According to the GNR, the suspects who were on board the vessel “began to flee on foot when they became aware of the presence of the GNR officers on board”.
The facts have been reported to the Olhão Judicial Court.
At Terra Estreita beach, in Santa Luzia, Tavira, the Maritime Police divers removed 32 kilos of amphetamines from the sea on Monday. Tavira Maritime Police were sent to the location, freediving to retrieve the 32.46 kilograms of amphetamines, divided into “30 volumes of narcotic product”.
The drugs were removed from a depth of approximately three metres, following an alert received by the authorities regarding the possible presence of the packages near the bathing area pf the beach, which is located on one of the barrier islands of the Ria Formosa, classified as a Natural Park.
With the help of the Maritime Police's Forensic Diving and Underwater Police Operations Group (GMF-OPS), with a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), forensic diving group will conduct further searches along the Algarve coast to check whether there is more to be recovered in the area, or whether useful evidence for the investigation can be found.
“The narcotic product was handed over to the Judicial Police”, which is in charge of the investigation.
Sources https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/ and https://postal.pt/
