Portugal: Record Cocaine Haul Seized from 'Narco-Sub'

Portuguese authorities announced the seizure of approximately nine tons of cocaine from a 'semi-submersible' vessel off the Azores archipelago. The vessel, originating from Latin America, was carrying the cocaine and had three Colombian and one Venezuelan men on board. This is the largest amount of cocaine ever seized in Portugal. The interception operation was carried out with the assistance of the navy and air force, as well as authorities from the United States and the United Kingdom. The vessel was located approximately 230 nautical miles from the Azores. During the operation, the vessel sank along with 35 of the 300 packages of narcotics it was carrying. Authorities have not released details about the circumstances of the sinking. This seizure is a significant success for Portuguese authorities in the fight against drug trafficking and highlights the importance of international cooperation in this area.