Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre Narcotics

01/09/2026

🌐 𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐂-𝐍 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭

⚔️ On 26 and 27 August, Lisbon hosted the latest meeting of a project funded by the Internal Security Fund (ISF), aimed at tackling the introduction of co***ne into Europe via the Atlantic Front.

🤝 Co-organised by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ) and the Policía Nacional, the event was held at the PJ headquarters and brought together representatives from several institutions involved in the initiative, including MAOC-N.

🛥️ Following previous meetings held in Málaga, Galicia and Madrid, the Lisbon gathering provided yet another opportunity for participating authorities to strengthen cooperation and discuss approaches to addressing the threat posed by co***ne trafficking along the Atlantic route.

📢 The event was opened by Carlos Cabreiro, National Director of the Portuguese Judicial Police, and Francisco Javier Ramos Fernández, Head of the Central Organised Crime Brigade of the Spanish National Police.

🪶MAOC-N’s participation in this initiative reflects the Centre’s continued engagement in supporting international cooperation as a means to tackle transnational organised crime and maritime drug trafficking.

🔗 https://maoc.eu/maoc-n-participates-in-meeting-on-tackling-co***ne-trafficking-in-the-atlantic-front/

06/08/2026

🚨 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐂-𝐍 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

🛥️ In recent days, the Polícia Judiciária, in close cooperation with the Marinha Portuguesa and the Força Aérea Portuguesa, intercepted a container vessel during a maritime operation that resulted in the seizure of approximately five tonnes of co***ne destined for the European market.

⚔️ The operation led to the arrest of two individuals found clandestinely on board the vessel, as well as one crew member suspected of involvement in the trafficking venture. Several items allegedly used to facilitate the navigation, overboard deployment and subsequent recovery of the narcotics were also seized.

🌐 The investigation began shortly after intelligence was first shared through the Centre and is being developed in close cooperation with the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency and the Spanish Policía Nacional.

🛟 The container vessel was subsequently escorted by the Portuguese Navy to the Port of Sines, where the narcotics were offloaded.

🗺️ This successful operation once again highlights MAOC-N's role as a platform for intelligence sharing and international cooperation, demonstrating how timely intelligence exchange can rapidly translate into operational results and lead to the successful disruption of large-scale maritime drug trafficking within just a few days of the initial information being shared.

🔗 https://maoc.eu/five-tonnes-of-co***ne-seized-by-the-portuguese-authorities-in-maoc-n-supported-operation/

28/07/2026

🚨 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟐.𝟔 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐆𝐨-𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐂-𝐍 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

⚔️ A MAOC-N supported operation has resulted in the seizure of approximately 2627kg of co***ne and the arrest of four suspected drug traffickers off the Portuguese coast.

🛥️ The operation, named BUONGIORNO, was conducted by the Portuguese Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária), in close cooperation with the Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa), the Maritime Police and the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa).

🌐 The investigation was initiated following intelligence shared through MAOC-N as part of international law enforcement cooperation and in close collaboration with the Italian authorities. The intelligence led to the identification of a go-fast vessel suspected of transporting a significant co***ne shipment towards Europe.

🛟 On 23 July, the vessel was detected, intercepted and boarded approximately 50 nautical miles southwest of Cabo Espichel, Portugal. Officers recovered the co***ne on board and arrested four suspects, two Spanish nationals, one British national and one Albanian national.

🗺️ This successful operation underscores the importance of international cooperation in tackling maritime drug trafficking, with MAOC-N supporting operational coordination between partner authorities in line with its mandate. It also confirms the continued use of go-fast vessels by organised crime groups to transport co***ne and highlights the considerable challenges these high-speed vessels present for detection and interception at sea.

🔗 https://maoc.eu/portuguese-authorities-seize-over-2-6-tonnes-of-co***ne-from-go-fast-vessel-in-maoc-n-supported-operation/

21/07/2026

🛟 𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐂-𝐍 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐗 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

🛥️ MAOC-N welcomed a Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency delegation to its headquarters in Lisbon to discuss practical ways of strengthening operational cooperation in the maritime domain.

⚔️ The delegation included FRONTEX’s Director of the Operations Management Division, the Head of the Contingent Management Unit, and the Contingent Commander C5.

🌐 The meeting focused on identifying concrete areas for closer collaboration, particularly through enhanced information sharing, improved maritime situational awareness, and closer operational coordination in support of Member States’ efforts to combat maritime drug trafficking.

🗺️ Both organisations also discussed establishing more structured cooperation, including regular exchanges between operational teams, the sharing of expertise and best practices, and exploring opportunities to support one another during maritime operations where their respective mandates and capabilities complement each other.

🪶 The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of MAOC-N and FRONTEX to strengthening operational cooperation and delivering a more coordinated response to organised crime in the maritime domain.

🔗https://maoc.eu/maoc-n-and-frontex-discuss-practical-steps-to-strengthen-maritime-cooperation/

20/07/2026

🚨 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧

🛟 The French authorities (Marine nationale) have seized 1075 kg of co***ne following the interception of a sailing vessel approximately 500 nautical miles east of La Réunion on 25 June.

🛥️ The operation resulted in the arrest of three suspects, one Brazilian national and two Bolivian nationals, who were transferred to France. According to the investigation, the vessel had departed from South America and was believed to be bound for Australia.

🛡️ The seizure underscores the importance of sustained international cooperation in combating the increasingly complex and ever-evolving threat of maritime drug trafficking.The operation, supported by MAOC-N and involving contributions from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA, Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S), the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Brazilian authorities, highlights the vital role of intelligence sharing and coordinated multinational action in disrupting transoceanic co***ne trafficking networks.

🔗https://maoc.eu/french-authorities-seize-more-than-one-tonne-of-co***ne-in-the-indian-ocean/

15/07/2026

⚔️ 𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐂-𝐍 𝐂𝐨-𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐨𝐧

🌐 MAOC-N is co-organising, alongside the Portuguese Polícia Judiciária and the U.S. Africa Command, the Maritime Illicit Trafficking Meeting, taking place this week in Lisbon. The event brings together representatives from USAFRICOM, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA, the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South), the U.S. Department of State (DoS), NAVAF, as well as authorities from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

🛥️ The meeting provides a platform to strengthen international cooperation against maritime drug trafficking through intelligence sharing, operational planning and the exchange of operational best practices. Discussions focus on enhancing coordination between European, African and U.S. partners to address evolving trafficking threats across the Atlantic and African maritime domains.

🪶 The opening session featured remarks by the National Director of the Portuguese Judicial Police, Carlos Cabreiro, MAOC-N Executive Director José Ferreira, and USAFRICOM Deputy Director, Brigadier General Eero Keravouri, underlining the importance of sustained international cooperation in tackling transnational organised crime at sea.

🔗https://maoc.eu/maoc-n-co-organises-maritime-illicit-trafficking-meeting-in-lisbon/

26/06/2026

⚔️ 𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐂-𝐍 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐙𝐔𝐋 𝟐.𝟎 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠

🛥️ MAOC-N recently supported Operation AZUL 2.0, a multinational law enforcement operation led by the Portuguese Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária), with the participation of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and Europol, which resulted in the dismantling of a significant co***ne trafficking route operating across the Atlantic Ocean.

🛟 Conducted between 27 May and 15 June 2026, Operation AZUL 2.0 was launched in response to evolving trafficking patterns identified by MAOC-N and its partner countries, which highlighted the growing use of sophisticated, multi-stage maritime smuggling methods by organised criminal organisations to move co***ne from Latin America to Europe. Operational assets and efforts focused on the Eastern Atlantic corridor between the Canary Islands as well as the Portuguese archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores.

🌐 The operation was led and coordinated by the Portuguese Judicial Police, in close cooperation with law enforcement authorities from Spain, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. Throughout the operation, MAOC-N supported the collection, fusion and analysis of intelligence, while FRONTEX provided aerial surveillance capabilities.

🛃 The operation resulted in the seizure of 465 kilograms of co***ne and 42 kilograms of hashish, as well as two high-speed vessels and approximately 800 litres of fuel used to support the trafficking activities.

🛡️ The results of Operation AZUL 2.0 demonstrate that intelligence-led maritime operations, combined with coordinated interventions at sea, remain essential to disrupting increasingly sophisticated trafficking models.

🗺️ MAOC-N, together with its member countries and international partners on both sides of the Atlantic, continues committed to playing a central role in this effort by coordinating intelligence and operational information towards the disruption of organised criminal networks operating across the Atlantic.

🔗https://maoc.eu/maoc-n-supports-major-international-operation-azul-2-0-against-atlantic-co***ne-trafficking/

16/06/2026

🛥️ 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐌 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐒 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐂-𝐍 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

🛟 MAOC-N recently welcomed a delegation from the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), led by Executive Director Colonel Michael Jones, who was accompanied by the team’s maritime lead and two analysts.

⚔️ The visit provided an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation between MAOC-N and CARICOM IMPACS in addressing transnational organised crime and enhancing maritime security. A key element of the visit was the engagement between the analysts of both organisations, enabling the exchange of knowledge, expertise and perspectives on emerging threats and developments affecting both the Atlantic and Caribbean regions.

🛡️ The delegation also attended a presentation delivered by representatives of the Portuguese Institute for Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (ICAD).

🌐 In addition, the visiting team met with some of the Centre’s Liaison Officers, gaining a greater understanding of the multinational cooperation framework that underpins MAOC-N’s operational success and facilitates operational coordination between countries.

🔗 https://maoc.eu/caricom-impacs-delegation-visits-maoc-n-to-strengthen-maritime-cooperation/

14/05/2026

🪶 𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐂-𝐍 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐊𝐀

⚔️ MAOC-N recently welcomed the President of the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Holger Münch, to its headquarters. He was hosted by the Executive Director and the Head of Operations of MAOC-N during the visit.

🛡️ The German delegation also included the Head of Division for Serious and Organised Crime at the BKA, Markus Koths.

🚨 The visit underlined the close operational cooperation between MAOC-N and Germany, which became a member of the Centre in 2024. Since joining, Germany has been permanently represented at MAOC-N through a liaison officer from the BKA, ensuring real-time exchange of information and strengthened operational coordination within the Centre’s framework.

🌐 The German Ambassador to Portugal (Embaixada da Alemanha Lisboa. Deutsche Botschaft Lissabon), Daniela Schlegel, also participated in the programme, attending the lunch hosted during the visit.

🛥️ Germany’s accession to MAOC-N reflects the strategy of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior to effectively intertwine the work of federal security agencies with European and international partners, specifically directed to fight against organised crime structures. The visit highlighted the mutual commitment to enhancing international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.

🔗https://maoc.eu/maoc-n-receives-visit-from-president-of-the-german-bka/

28/04/2026

🪶 𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐂-𝐍 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

🛟 MAOC-N recently took part in two separate high-level events in Brussels focused on maritime security and the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

🛥️ The first, hosted by the Permanent Representation of Portugal to the European Union (PortugalnaUE), brought together representatives from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss cooperation against drug trafficking at sea and support for the EU-CELAC Mechanism on Drugs. MAOC-N contributed operational perspectives to the exchange, and Portugal’s Polícia Judiciária (UNCTE) was also present at the meeting to discuss future avenues to strengthen coordination.

🌐 MAOC-N’s Head Analyst also attended the EPP Group High-Level European Ports Summit, organised by the EPP Group in the European Parliament, which gathered policymakers, law enforcement and port stakeholders to exchange views on security challenges affecting European ports.

⚔️ Both meetings reinforced the importance of coordinated approaches to maritime security and the disruption of illicit trafficking routes.

🔗https://maoc.eu/maoc-n-engages-in-brussels-discussions-on-maritime-security-and-port-cooperation/

Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre Narcotics - MAOC N

01/09/2026

06/08/2026

28/07/2026

21/07/2026

20/07/2026

15/07/2026

26/06/2026

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14/05/2026

28/04/2026

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