In a major victory against transnational drug trafficking, the Portuguese Navy, in coordination with national intelligence services and MAOC-N (Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre—Narcotics), intercepted a narco-submarine carrying 1.74 tons of cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean. The high-stakes operation took place approximately 1,000 nautical miles from Lisbon, striking a severe blow to a Venezuela-based cartel attempting to smuggle narcotics into Europe.

Authorities confirmed that the semi-submersible vessel, designed to evade radar and maritime patrols, was crewed by four Venezuelan nationals who were taken into custody without incident. The seizure represents one of the largest maritime drug busts in the region this year.

Intelligence officials said the operation was based on weeks of surveillance and coordinated intelligence sharing through MAOC-N, an international task force that links European anti-narcotics agencies. The data pointed to a trafficking route originating in South America and stretching across the Atlantic, intended to supply European markets.

The Portuguese Navy deployed a patrol vessel and reconnaissance aircraft to track and intercept the submersible before it reached continental waters. Upon boarding, officers discovered more than 1.7 tons of tightly packed cocaine hidden within the hull.

Defense and security officials praised the operation as an example of international cooperation done right—linking intelligence, military readiness, and law enforcement to dismantle major smuggling routes. “This interception shows that Europe’s maritime defenses are alert, prepared, and capable of stopping organized crime at sea,” one security official stated.

The four detainees are being held under Portuguese custody as investigators work to identify the full network behind the smuggling attempt. The operation marks another step forward in Europe’s ongoing campaign to counter the growing influence of Latin American cartels in transatlantic drug trade routes.