Two AT employees among the four detained by the PJ in Operation Porthos

The Judicial Police (PJ) today arrested four people, including two employees of the Tax Authority (AT), and named 15 defendants as part of 'Operation Porthos' to combat drug trafficking through national ports.

According to the PJ statement, in addition to four detainees and 15 defendants resulting from the operation, “more than half a million euros in cash, 10 vehicles and five firearms and others were also seized”.

A judicial source told Lusa that five defendants are AT employees, two of whom were arrested.

The PJ carried out searches today in the metropolitan area of ​​Lisbon, and in Setúbal, Sines and Leiria due to suspicions of corruption in the ports aimed at the entry of cocaine from Latin America into Europe, the institution announced.

In a statement, the PJ said that Operation Porthos "investigates the benefit of criminal organizations dedicated to the export of large quantities of cocaine from Latin America".

"These criminal organizations use national seaports as a gateway for narcotic products into the European continent, hidden in various products packed in containers," the institution adds.

The investigation is the result of international police cooperation and involves suspicions of active and passive corruption, drug trafficking and money laundering.

According to CNN Portugal, the PJ suspects that Tax Authority employees at customs were bribed by the Primeiro Comando da Capital, from Brazil, and Colombian cartels to let the drugs pass through.

There were 150 inspectors and experts from the PJ on the ground, accompanied by four magistrates from the Public Prosecutor's Office.

32 search warrants were executed, 14 of which were residential and 18 non-residential, to “collect additional evidence”.

The investigation will continue, within the scope of an inquiry led by the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP) of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The Judicial Police (PJ) today arrested four people, including two employees of the Tax Authority (AT), and named 15 defendants as part of 'Operation Porthos' to combat drug trafficking through national ports.

According to the PJ statement, in addition to four detainees and 15 defendants resulting from the operation, “more than half a million euros in cash, 10 vehicles and five firearms and others were also seized”.

A judicial source told Lusa that five defendants are AT employees, two of whom were arrested.

The PJ carried out searches today in the metropolitan area of ​​Lisbon, and in Setúbal, Sines and Leiria due to suspicions of corruption in the ports aimed at the entry of cocaine from Latin America into Europe, the institution announced.

In a statement, the PJ said that Operation Porthos "investigates the benefit of criminal organizations dedicated to the export of large quantities of cocaine from Latin America".

"These criminal organizations use national seaports as a gateway for narcotic products into the European continent, hidden in various products packed in containers," the institution adds.

The investigation is the result of international police cooperation and involves suspicions of active and passive corruption, drug trafficking and money laundering.

According to CNN Portugal, the PJ suspects that Tax Authority employees at customs were bribed by the Primeiro Comando da Capital, from Brazil, and Colombian cartels to let the drugs pass through.

There were 150 inspectors and experts from the PJ on the ground, accompanied by four magistrates from the Public Prosecutor's Office.

32 search warrants were executed, 14 of which were residential and 18 non-residential, to “collect additional evidence”.

The investigation will continue, within the scope of an inquiry led by the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP) of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

The Judicial Police (PJ) today arrested four people, including two employees of the Tax Authority (AT), and named 15 defendants as part of 'Operation Porthos' to combat drug trafficking through national ports.

According to the PJ statement, in addition to four detainees and 15 defendants resulting from the operation, “more than half a million euros in cash, 10 vehicles and five firearms and others were also seized”.

A judicial source told Lusa that five defendants are AT employees, two of whom were arrested.

The PJ carried out searches today in the metropolitan area of ​​Lisbon, and in Setúbal, Sines and Leiria due to suspicions of corruption in the ports aimed at the entry of cocaine from Latin America into Europe, the institution announced.

In a statement, the PJ said that Operation Porthos "investigates the benefit of criminal organizations dedicated to the export of large quantities of cocaine from Latin America".

"These criminal organizations use national seaports as a gateway for narcotic products into the European continent, hidden in various products packed in containers," the institution adds.

The investigation is the result of international police cooperation and involves suspicions of active and passive corruption, drug trafficking and money laundering.

According to CNN Portugal, the PJ suspects that Tax Authority employees at customs were bribed by the Primeiro Comando da Capital, from Brazil, and Colombian cartels to let the drugs pass through.

There were 150 inspectors and experts from the PJ on the ground, accompanied by four magistrates from the Public Prosecutor's Office.

32 search warrants were executed, 14 of which were residential and 18 non-residential, to “collect additional evidence”.

The investigation will continue, within the scope of an inquiry led by the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP) of the Public Prosecutor's Office.