The operation, carried out by the Spanish authorities, led to the arrest of 197 suspects, of 34 nationalities.

According to the PJ statement, the operation targeted “a series of criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud and corruption, among other crimes”, in line with community guidelines against serious organised crime, with a special focus on high-value targets and organizations that resort to violence and are capable of large drug imports.

Among the 197 detainees, there are 33 fugitives and six senior members who belong to criminal networks.

In this international operation, 114 house searches were carried out and the seizure of almost five tons of cocaine, more than two tons of cannabis, 1.7 tons of heroin, 28 firearms, 57 vehicles, more than four million euros in cash and around 10 million euros in bank accounts.

In addition to Portugal, authorities from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania and Serbia also cooperated in this initiative.