PF carries out operation to combat trafficking to Europe and Africa by ships

The Federal Police launched, this Tuesday (2), Operation Narcopesca against a criminal organization that operates in the logistics of transporting large shipments of drugs in fishing vessels, maritime support vessels and sailing boats, bound for Europe and Africa. The investigation has the support of the Federal Revenue Service and the Brazilian Navy.

In the operation, federal police officers are executing preventive arrest and search and seizure warrants, in addition to seizing properties, vehicles, vessels and blocking bank accounts of individuals and legal entities, in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro.

A CNN found that there are arrests in Florianópolis (SC), Itajaí (SC) and Angra dos Reis (RJ).

During the investigation, the PF discovered the involvement of this criminal organization in the transportation of approximately 4.6 tons of cocaine that was going to Europe and 3 tons of hashish that was going to Brazil.

The Federal Police also managed to link some of those investigated in a flagrant case, on February 29 of this year, who tried to insert 21 kilos of cocaine into the hull of a ship that would leave the Port of Rio Grande bound for Portugal.

The investigations began as a result of information received after the launch of another operation, Hinterland, on March 31, 2023, also aimed at suppressing transnational drug trafficking, by sea, from South America to Europe.

At the time, 200 federal police officers and 12 employees of the Brazilian Federal Revenue Service served 534 court orders, including 17 preventive arrest warrants, in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, Amazonas and Rondônia, as well as in the city of Asunción, in Paraguay.

Those investigated may be held accountable, to the extent of their responsibilities, for the crimes of drug trafficking, money laundering and criminal organization. If convicted, they will be subject to a sentence of up to 33 years in prison.