Portugal seizes five tonnes of cocaine in Atlantic bust
Video. Portuguese authorities intercepted a cargo ship in the Atlantic and seized around five tonnes of cocaine in a multinational operation. Three foreign nationals were arrested as officials said Portugal has already confiscated more cocaine in 2026 than in all of last year.
Updated: 06/08/2026 - 13:00 GMT+2
Portuguese authorities have seized around five tonnes of cocaine from a cargo ship intercepted off the country's coast.
The ship, which had departed from South America, was boarded in a joint operation involving Portugal's Judiciary Police, Air Force and Navy, with support from Britain's National Crime Agency and Spain's National Police. Most of the cocaine was found inside a shipping container, while the rest had been moved into the ship's hold.
Three foreign nationals — an Italian, a Colombian and an Indian citizen — were arrested.
Authorities say Portugal has now seized around 28 tonnes of cocaine so far in 2026, already exceeding the total amount confiscated during the whole of 2025.
