In a statement to which Lusa had access, the Judicial Police said that the operation, carried out by elements of the Central Section of Narcotic Traffic (SCITE) in conjunction with the Coast Guard, was made on Saturday and targeted the vessel “Perpétuo Socorro de Abaete II”.

A total of 2,256.27 kilograms of cocaine were found aboard the vessel and five citizens of Brazilian nationality were arrested and “will be presented to the competent judicial authorities for the validation of arrests and enforce necessary measures” according to the police.

The statement adds that this operation was developed following the exchange of operational information with the Lisbon based Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) agency MAOC-N.

The operation carried out on Saturday, as part of the fight against transnational drug trafficking by sea, also had the cooperation of the Federal Police of Brazil in the search, unloading, transporting, packaging and storage of the product seized with the support of the Cabo Verde National Police.