Calls for improving Portugal law on drug trafficking

International drug trafficking networks are increasingly using Portugal and its coastline, with the Algarve becoming one of the areas where the activity is particularly visible.

By Tereza Pedro, in News · 24 Sep 2026, 17:03 · 0 Comments

The warning comes from António Ventinhas, director of the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP) in Faro, who says changes to Portuguese law are needed, along with more resources for the authorities dealing with these networks.

One of the main concerns is the large amount of fuel being brought into Portugal to supply high-speed boats used for drug trafficking, as reported by Executive Digest.

Around 100,000 litres of fuel linked to trafficking groups have recently been seized in the Algarve alone, with Ventinhas saying seizures in the region are now taking place on a daily basis.

Part of the problem, he says, is the difference between Portuguese and Spanish law. In Spain, possession of modified fuel can be considered a crime when authorities can prove that it is intended to supply high-speed boats at sea or on beaches.

Portugal does not currently have the same rules. Ventinhas says this has resulted in trafficking groups bringing vehicles loaded with fuel across the border into Portugal, even though much of their logistical operation remains based in Spain. He believes Portugal should introduce similar legislation covering the possession of this type of fuel.

Recent operations show the scale of the problem. Earlier this month, the GNR seized more than 7,000 litres of petrol and a boat near the beaches of Almargem and Gaivota in Quarteira. Days later, another operation around Vila do Bispo and Sagres resulted in the seizure of more than 6,500 litres of fuel and a vehicle.

Ventinhas also pointed to the resources available to Portuguese authorities compared with neighbouring Spain, saying the difference becomes particularly clear during joint operations.

He warned that the Portuguese coast is being used by South American networks involved in cocaine trafficking, alongside existing routes bringing hashish from Morocco.

The Faro DIAP itself is also working with limited staff. It currently has four prosecutors under Ventinhas, with two covering the eastern Algarve and another two responsible for the western part of the region.

The warning comes as authorities continue to find fuel believed to be connected with maritime drug trafficking. On Wednesday, around 2,000 litres were discovered inside a van in Almada. The fuel was stored in 99 jerry cans, in a setup that the Maritime Police said was consistent with logistics used to supply high-speed boats associated with drug trafficking.