08/10/2026
GNR SEIZES 2.7 TONS OF CO***NE AND AUTOMATIC FI****MS ON THE BEACHES OF FIGUEIRA DA FOZ - 20 ARRESTS MADE.
The "Atalaia" operation, conducted by the GNR, took place on Wednesday (Oct 7) in the Figueira da Foz area. Today Thursday, Oct 8, all the details of the operation, which occurred at Praia da Costinha in Quiaios and in the Tocha area, were revealed.
The initial investigations began at four in the morning, explained the GNR spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Canatário. The operation was made possible thanks to the exchange of information between authorities and a citizen's report.
Therefore, an appeal was made to the public. "We ask that every citizen to be aware that they are part of our security system. We count on each person to alert the GNR's officers of anything they consider strange in their daily lives," stated Carlos Canatário.
The GNR spokesperson gave some examples: "people who are not from that area, suspicious movements, etc." He added that "this alert can often be a fundamental contribution to significant police results, thus reinforcing the sense of security of our population."
Authorities found a vessel (not high-speed boat) on the beach, weapons of war, and a van wanted by Switzerland,, which therefore had a Schengen alert. Inside the vehicle were 900 kg of co***ne.
The GNR managed, however, to "identify 20 individuals of various nationalities, aged between 20 and 44 years. Of these 20, four were arrested for drug trafficking and possession of prohibited weapons, and three more for illegal stay in national territory."
The three citizens who were illegally in Portugal were a Venezuelan, a Dominican, and an Antiguan.
In addition to the beach, the operations extended to the main access roads and a house where there were more drugs and weapons of war, including Kalashnikovs. Four individuals were at the location, two of whom tried to escape, without success.
"One of them was intercepted by a tactical intervention dog, and the individual required medical assistance on site, which was promptly provided," explained the GNR spokesperson.
In the final tally of the operation, six vehicles, a boat, and four loaded Kalashnikov-caliber military fi****ms were seized. In total, across both locations—the beach and the house—2.7 tons of co***ne were found.
Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Canatário is considering this police operation "of particular importance," given the amount of co***ne seized, the individuals arrested, and the criminal nature of the crime.
He also mentioned that in recent months the GNR has carried out several operations in which it has seized drugs, weapons of war, boats and increasingly sophisticated equipment.
Most drug landings have occurred further south in Portugal, and the case now discovered "is relatively new," considering the area where it happened.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Canatário, this could be the result of "surveillance and control pressures on the routes" exerted by Spanish authorities, but also from "central and northern Europe," which lead criminals to "study and adapt their routes."
Portugal ends up being the chosen destination: "If we know that a certain door is more controlled, it's natural to try another one."
The official acknowledged that recently there has been "drug landings all along the coast" and that a risk assessment and adaptation of the police force to these new phenomena has been carried out.
At the press conference, held at the GNR headquarters in Lisbon, Carlos Canatário also appealed to the public to report suspicious activities, reminding them that "this alert can often be a fundamental contribution" to combating crime and creating a greater sense of security for the population.
Photo GNR
Good work by GNR
