The case traces back to information shared via MAOC-N, with further involvement from the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South.

The suspects, aged 40 to 65, include two Ecuadorians, one Venezuelan and one Colombian, who allegedly spent two to three weeks at sea under harsh conditions.

A semi-submersible narco-sub carrying more than 1.7 tonnes of cocaine was seized in the mid-Atlantic, with four crew members detained as the vessel was bound for the Iberian Peninsula.

The operation, which intercepted the vessel with help from Portugal, the UK’s National Crime Agency and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, underscores international cooperation in counter-narcotics efforts.

Officials note that evolving conditions and advances in technology are fueling a rise in narcotics-submarine operations.

The March operation demonstrated cross-border collaboration, involving Portugal’s PJ, Navy and Air Force, Spain’s Guardia Civil, the U.S. DEA, and the U.K.’s NCA.

The operation, named El Dorado, involved an at-sea interception of the drugs and the vessel.

This marks the second submarine interception by the PJ in 2025; the first, Nautilus, in March, involved international cooperation and a seven-ton drug seizure bound for Europe.

The fiberglass submarine could not be towed due to weather and fragility and ultimately sank after the interception.

Weather and structural fragility prevented towing, leading to the submarine sinking in open sea after seizure.

The diverse nationalities on board point to an international criminal organization rather than a single-country operation.

Authorities confirmed the seizure and ongoing interrogations, as reported by Portugal’s Kriminalpolizei and state news agency Lusa.