Officers from Portugal’s GNR today seized 1,840 kilos of hashish from a boat in the Guadiana river near Castro Marim.
The operation culminated in two arrests and enough hashish to keep the Algarve stoned for weeks.
The GNR statement read that at 19.30 on Tuesday the Coastal Control Unit, seized 1,840 kilos of hashish, a 7.7 metre vessel and arrested two Spanish men suspects.
The GNR had been given the nod by the Spanish Guardia Civil which had been tracking the boat. As it neared land and headed for the Guadiana the Portuguese were waiting.
"The naval and land resources of the Coastal Control at Vila Real de Santo António, were activated to intercept the boat in the estuary near Castro Marim.”
The GNR said that the Spanish men tried to run off but were restrained and arrested. The boat was found to be loaded with hashish which had an estimated street value of around €60,000 depending on quality and market conditions.
In a statement, the GNR stated that this operation was only possible due to its close collaboration with the Spanish Guardia Civil and the use of coastal surveillance and communications systems.
The costs of arresting, detaining, judging and probably sentencing the men, plus the cost of detaining them in a Portuguese prison now will be borne by Portuguese taxpayers rather than those in Spain.
