Trendpills
Portuguese authorities have intercepted a semi-submersible vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, seizing over 1.7 tonnes of cocaine in a major international anti-drug trafficking operation. The vessel, commonly known as a “narco-submarine,” was reportedly en route to the Iberian Peninsula, a primary entry point for illegal drugs into Europe.
The mission, codenamed “El Dorado,” involved a coordinated effort between Portugal's Policia Judiciaria (PJ) and its navy, with support from the Portuguese air force. The successful seizure was the result of close international collaboration, including intelligence and operational support from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). All activities were coordinated through the Lisbon-based Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre: Narcotics (MAOC-N), an agency that facilitates joint anti-drug actions among several European nations. Details of the coordinated drug bust highlight the critical role of multi-agency intelligence sharing.
Narco-submarines are low-profile vessels designed to be difficult to detect by radar and are increasingly used by traffickers to move large quantities of narcotics from South America. These semi-submersibles travel just below the surface, with only a small portion visible above water. This incident is the latest example of the growing sophistication of smuggling methods employed by transnational criminal organizations to meet European demand for cocaine.
Authorities have noted that this type of vessel represents a significant logistical challenge for law enforcement, requiring advanced surveillance and naval capabilities to detect and intercept. The operation underscores how traffickers continue to adapt their tactics to evade capture. The seizure prevents a substantial amount of narcotics from reaching European streets, disrupting a major revenue stream for criminal syndicates. The use of narco-subs for transatlantic smuggling has become a more frequent occurrence, prompting heightened vigilance from maritime security forces across the Atlantic.
