Brazilian Federal Police recently intercepted one ton of cocaine destined for Morocco at the Port of Itapoa in Santa Catarina. The drugs were discovered hidden in a compartment of a Liberian-flagged cargo vessel docked at the port. The operation was triggered by suspicious activities involving a second vessel loading cargo onto the ship, as observed through surveillance images of the port terminal. Five individuals of Philippine and Montenegran nationality were arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.
A joint operation between Brazilian and Italian police was announced last week to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking plot involving the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), Brazil’s largest drug gang. The operation targets criminal gangs smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe using cargo ships and airplanes. Authorities have issued 18 arrest warrants in Brazil and one in Spain against suspected members linked to international drug trafficking. The Port of Paranagua in southern Brazil has been identified as a key hub for drug trafficking.
Ports in North Africa, particularly in Morocco, are crucial transshipment points for drug traffickers attempting to transport their cargo to Europe. A recent joint operation at the Port of Casablanca in Morocco led to the seizure of 3.61 tons of cannabis resin hidden inside a cargo ship. The drugs, concealed within a cargo of fish meal, were intended for a European port. Moroccan police processed 99,513 drug trafficking cases in 2023, underscoring the country’s role as a critical link in the transnational drug trade.