On 27 July, the PEF Unit of Brescia, in synergy with the Air-Naval Operational Command and the SCICO of the Guardia di Finanza, completed a vast operation to combat international drug trafficking in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean (press release).

The operation represents the conclusion of complex investigations coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Brescia - District Anti-Mafia Directorate, which made it possible to intercept an ultra-fast ocean-going dinghy, of the "go-fast" type, to seize over 2.6 tons of cocaine and arrest four subjects present on board, two of whom were Spanish citizens, one from Gibraltar and one of Albanian nationality, the latter domiciled in the province of Brescia.

The vessel was stopped off the coast of Lisbon by the Portuguese Maritime Police, thanks to the activation of international cooperation channels with the collateral police bodies of Spain and Portugal and with the support of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Center – Narcotics (M.A.O.C.-N) of Lisbon and the Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Services (D.C.S.A.).

The large quantity of drugs seized would have guaranteed enormous profits, estimated at around 78 million euros on the wholesale market. With the cutting operations of cocaine to be destined for retail sales, the value of the narcotic substance would have reached 500 million euros.

The Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Services carried out the specific info-investigative coordination action, at national and international level, contributing to the excellent result achieved by the Brescia Financial Police.