A tip-off from narcotics police in the United States led the combined forces of Portugal’s PJ police, Air Force and Navy to a cargo ship in Portuguese waters this weekend transporting “various sports bags” stuffed with 100 kgs of cocaine.
The bags – fitted with GPS locator devices – were in the bows, along with a stowaway tasked with tossing the haul, worth around €3 million, into the sea at an agreed point.
When Naval special forces intercepted the Ara Antwerpen, transporting nutmeg and powdered coal from Colombia to Denmark, the crew was apparently taken by complete surprise.
Explain reports, none had any idea there was a stowaway on board.
The young man, described as a 26-year-old Venezuelan, had been hidden for the best part of two weeks, surviving on supplies he had brought with him, writes Correio da Manhã.
“After it was established that the crew knew nothing (about the stowaway), the boat was allowed to continue to Porto de Leixões , and is now on its way to Denmark”.
The young Venezuelan however has been left behind and will be appearing in court.
He is believed to be working for a trafficking network that was already under investigation by the Public Ministry, says CM.
