Police authorities have seized over 2.6 tonnes of cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean near Portugal, valued at approximately €500 million ($570 million), according to Italy’s border and customs police. The drugs were discovered on an “ultra-fast ocean-going rigid inflatable boat,” commonly used by smugglers to retrieve cargo dropped at sea by larger ships from South America.
Four individuals were arrested in connection with the seizure: two Spaniards, a resident of Gibraltar, and an Albanian man living in Italy. The operation was carried out in collaboration with Spanish and Portuguese authorities, with investigations coordinated by Italian prosecutors in Brescia.
The wholesale value of the cocaine is estimated at around €78 million, but once distributed for retail, it could generate revenues of approximately €500 million. This significant bust highlights ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in European waters.
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