Portuguese police use seized speedboats to pursue cocaine smugglers

Portuguese police are using boats seized from cocaine smugglers to pursue traffickers whose high-speed craft can outrun law enforcement, DR reports. As more cocaine is smuggled across the Atlantic, the pursuit is becoming more dangerous, while consumption in Denmark has risen over the past decade.

Authorities are trying to stop cocaine from reaching Europe, where demand is growing. The supply chain begins thousands of kilometres away, with coca plants grown in countries including Colombia and Peru and processed into cocaine before the drug is shipped overseas.

Portugal is an attractive destination for smugglers because of its long, remote coastline, says Paulo Gomes da Silva, chief analyst at MAOC, a partnership of nine European countries working to combat drug smuggling. The organisation shares information about destinations, vessels and people involved in suspected smuggling operations.

Fast boats carry supplies and internet

Smugglers are increasingly using so-called “go-fast” boats, which are equipped with food, drink and internet access. The crews add equipment to the vessels themselves, Gomes da Silva says. A fully equipped boat can cost up to 300,000 euros and carry large quantities of cocaine. Authorities have found boats carrying as much as six tonnes.

The boats can wait at sea for days for larger ships crossing the Atlantic. They can also travel long distances: Gomes da Silva says authorities investigated a case this year in which a boat travelled more than 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,852 kilometres, south to collect drugs. Crews can exchange fuel while at sea, allowing them to cover greater distances.

Once the boats receive a location, they collect the drugs from larger vessels and speed towards the coast. They can reach speeds of 130 kilometres per hour, allowing smugglers to deliver their cargo quickly.

Videos of the boats have circulated on platforms including Instagram. DR has not been able to verify where the videos came from, but MAOC considers them authentic.

Police adapt seized vessels

The speed of the boats has led Portugal’s maritime police, Policia Maritima, to use vessels seized from smugglers. An operator who spoke to DR anonymously for safety reasons said police modify the boats for their work.

“They have really good boats, so it is very difficult to catch them,” the operator said. Police try to stay one step ahead with experienced operators and the seized vessels.

The chases can be dangerous, particularly at high speeds and in rough seas. A police officer died while working at sea last year, the operator said. Smugglers’ boats can also collide with police vessels during pursuits.

DR reports that police seized almost two tonnes of cocaine from a boat in a Portuguese port. Six Danish citizens have been charged with being behind the smuggling operation. Denmark’s National Special Crime Unit told DR News the case could become historic if they are convicted because of the quantity of cocaine involved.