Prosecutor warns that international drug traffickers are establishing bases in Portugal
António Ventinhas, director of the Faro DIAP, says foreign drug networks are setting up operations in Portugal and calls for urgent legal reforms and more resources for police.
António Ventinhas, who leads the Faro district anti-drug prosecution office (DIAP), warned that transnational drug trafficking organisations are establishing a foothold in Portugal. He highlighted recent seizures of large quantities of fuel linked to these networks in the Algarve region. Ventinhas argued that the legal framework must be updated, specifically proposing the criminalisation of supplying fuel to high-speed vessels operating offshore and on coastal areas.
He also stressed the need for immediate reinforcement of police resources to combat the growing threat. The prosecutor warned that if reforms are not enacted, traffickers will increasingly target the Iberian Peninsula as a gateway for narcotics into Europe. The former head of the magistrates' union echoed concerns that the situation could deteriorate further without decisive action.
