Almost seven tons of cocaine: semi-submersible caught off the Azores!

Almost seven tons of cocaine: semi-submersible caught off the Azores!

A major drug discovery occurred off the Azores archipelago in the Atlantic, in which almost seven tons of cocaine were confiscated. According to information from vienna.at The drug operation was carried out on a semi-submersible, a special vessel that is mostly submerged and difficult to detect. The attack by Portuguese and Spanish police units took place almost 500 nautical miles south of the Azores.

Five crew members of the semi-submersible were arrested during the operation. Investigators suspect that the large quantity of 6.5 tons of cocaine was destined for the European market. Evidence suggests that a transnational drug organization is behind this incident; the Brazilian organization PCC – Primeiro Comando da Capital is particularly suspected.

The use of semi-submersibles in drug trafficking

The use of semi-submersibles is increasing in the international drug trade. Not only are these ships difficult to detect, but they can also carry large quantities of drugs and can easily be sunk if threatened. Police authorities are watching this trend with concern as semi-submersibles are increasingly used as a means of transport between the two sides of the Atlantic.

Combating internationally organized drug crime is a central task of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). As described on the BKA website, organized crime profits from illegal profits in the drug trade, which poses a significant threat to internal security both in Germany and in the EU and worldwide. The difficult conditions, such as the increasing availability of drugs, challenge the investigative authorities.

Drug-related crimes include not only classic drugs such as heroin and cocaine, but also synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances. The handling of these narcotics is regulated by the Narcotics Act (BtMG), which also covers the handling of opioids, cannabis and stimulants. The insights gained from decrypted data, such as those from EnchroChat, have so far led to extensive investigations and the identification of numerous suspects.

Despite these successes, pressure in the drug market remains high, particularly due to cocaine seizures in the tonne range. The challenges posed by new psychoactive substances (NPS) and illegal online trade increase the complexity of combating drug-related crime. The BKA has legally assigned tasks to effectively counter these growing threats, as shown on bka.de is explained in detail.