Police in Portugal have arrested a key suspect in Évora, leading to a major crackdown on a drug trafficking network across the Alentejo region. The Public Security Police (PSP) launched 29 simultaneous searches across cities including Santarém District, Montemor-o-Novo, Lisbon, and Samora Correia. These raids were carefully planned to hit the group’s main operations at the same time.
In total, 13 people were arrested. The group included nine men and four women, all aged between 19 and 45. After the first court hearings, six of them were placed in custody. The investigation had been going on for 18 months and was focused on uncovering a well-organized criminal group.
Police seized a large amount of drugs during the operation. These included 135,695 doses of hashish, 697 doses of cocaine, and 85 doses of ecstasy. Officers also found €60,000 in cash and several luxury items linked to drug profits.
Among the items taken were five high-performance cars, a motorcycle, and two tanks of nitrous oxide. Officers also discovered two illegal firearms: a 6.35mm pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun.
The PSP described the operation as one of the largest drug seizures in Alentejo in recent years. The success of the raids was the result of long-term planning, careful tracking of suspects, and coordination between police teams. Each location was searched at the same time to reduce the risk of information leaks.
Police believe the group was selling drugs across several cities in central Portugal. The suspects are also being investigated for money laundering and using expensive vehicles to hide drug profits. The network is believed to have used secret locations and hidden compartments in vehicles to move drugs across the region without detection.
Authorities say this is part of a larger effort to reduce drug-related crime in Portugal. In recent years, there has been an increase in drug activity, especially in urban areas and along major transport routes. The government has responded by increasing police resources and improving data-sharing between units.
This case follows a similar operation in the Setúbal area last year, where another drug ring was taken down. In both cases, the goal was to stop the supply of illegal drugs before they reached local communities.
Residents in Évora and other affected towns had raised concerns about possible drug activity in their neighborhoods. Police say these reports helped guide the investigation. Local leaders have welcomed the arrests and say the operation has made communities feel safer.
The 13 suspects now face several charges, including drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons, and membership in an organized crime group. Investigators are still working to identify other people connected to the case. More arrests may follow as the inquiry continues.