Portugal: Over 23 Tons of Cocaine Seized in 2024, Setting a Record Since 2006
Portuguese authorities confiscated more than 23 tons of cocaine in 2024, reflecting a 5.9% increase from the previous year and setting a record since 2006, according to the annual report released by the judicial police on Wednesday in Lisbon.
Among various drugs, “cocaine accounted for the largest quantity seized” in Portugal last year, the report states. It also notes that cocaine seizures had increased significantly in 2023, rising by 31.4% compared to the previous year.
The record for drug seizures dates back to 2006, when authorities confiscated approximately 34 tons of cocaine, as highlighted in the source.
Last year, law enforcement conducted operations that led to the arrest of 1,553 individuals involved in cocaine trafficking. This drug primarily enters Portugal via maritime routes, predominantly originating from Latin America, with Colombia being the leading source.
“The criminal organizations primarily use national territory as a transit point” before distributing to “various European countries,” the report emphasizes.
In contrast, hashish seizures in 2024 amounted to 7.3 tons, representing a significant decline of 80.6% compared to the previous year, according to the Portuguese judicial police.
