Portuguese law enforcement agencies conducted a major operation in the Atlantic Ocean to intercept a so-called ‘drug submarine’ carrying 6.5 tonnes of cocaine. This is one of the largest maritime drug seizures in the country’s history and, according to experts, a record amount for this type of vessel bound for Europe.
The operation, codenamed Nautilus, was carried out approximately 500 nautical miles south of the Azores. There were five crew members on board, all of whom were detained. According to the police, the cocaine was intended for delivery to the Iberian Peninsula and belonged to an international criminal organisation. The seized shipment accounts for almost a quarter of the total volume of drugs confiscated in Portugal in 2024 (a record 23 tonnes at the time).
Portugal remains one of the main ‘gateways’ for cocaine into Europe, with a significant portion of shipments arriving by sea from South America. In recent years, drug cartels have increasingly used self-propelled semi-submersibles, which are difficult to detect by radar due to their low profile and low visibility above water.
Experts note that the seizure of 6.5 tonnes demonstrates the growing range and carrying capacity of such ‘drug submarines,’ which can cross the Atlantic almost autonomously.
The investigation is continuing in order to establish the route, the final recipients and the organisers of the shipment.