The interception of two high-speed vessels made by Portuguese marines in international waters south of Portugal led to the arrest of eight men and the seizure of 8.6 tons of hashish.

The Navy, the Air Force, the Maritime Authority, and the Judiciary Police carried out an operation in international waters south of Portugal, which resulted in the identification and seizure of two high-speed, semi-rigid vessels equipped with high-power engines, suspected of carrying a narcotic product”, explains the text signed by the four entities.

The operation carried out “resulted in the seizure of around 8,600 kilos of hashish”, and “eight male individuals aged between 34 and 40 years old were also arrested”.

It all started with a “routine mission” of maritime patrol by the Air Force, in which “suspicious movements” of the vessels were monitored, after which an approach operation was carried out in international waters, about 70 nautical miles south of mainland Portugal.

“The successful approach carried out by Navy means, operated by marines, allowed for the interception, detention of the crew and seizure of the narcotic product, hashish”.

A Marinha, a Autoridade Marítima, a Força Aérea e a Polícia Judiciária desenvolveram uma operação que resultou na apreensão de mais de 8 toneladas de haxixe em águas internacionais a sul de Portugal. https://t.co/wH9i2z2vIr@MarinhaPT @PJudiciaria @amn_portugal @fap_emfa pic.twitter.com/KOqCKyMQmS

— Marinha (@MarinhaPT) February 2, 2023

Details emerge of smuggling attempt on Royal Arctic Container (RAL) vessel

Drug smuggling on merchant ships remains a truly global problem, as a new report from Greenland proves.

News has emerged of a seizure of hashish on a Royal Arctic Line (RAL) container ship on 25 November last year.

The discovery of drugs with a street value of up to DKK 12m ($1.74m) was reported by the Sermitsiaq.AG website.

The 2,148-teu Tukuma Arctica (built 2020) was docked in Nunuk when seafarers found the hashish.

“An object was found that was attached to the grating on the outside of the ship,” police commissioner Malik Sandgreen told Greenland broadcaster KNR.

Sandgreen added crew members had alerted customs officials that there was a suspicious package on the vessel.

“The employees became aware of something that shouldn’t be there. They therefore informed the customs officers, who looked at it together with a diver,” he said.

The consignment was confiscated by police, but there have been no arrests in the case.

The problem is not a new one for Greenland.

As recently as June 2022, Danish tax authorities found 21kg of hashish on board a trawler.

RAL has not commented.

https://www.tradewindsnews.com/containerships/seafarers-found-hashish-shipment-on-container-ship-in-greenland/2-1-1396002