Italian-led operation intercepts 'go-fast' boat with 2.6 tonnes of cocaine off Lisbon coast, four arrested

Interception off Lisbon

A high-speed rigid inflatable boat was stopped by Portuguese maritime police last Thursday, about 90 km (50 nautical miles) southwest of Cape Espichel, near Lisbon. On board, authorities found more than 2.6 tonnes of cocaine. The Guardia di Finanza, which coordinated the investigation, announced the seizure on Monday. The wholesale value of the narcotics is estimated at approximately €78 million, with a potential street value of about €500 million once diluted for retail distribution.

The boat, described by police as an "ultra-fast ocean-going rigid inflatable boat", is a go-fast vessel measuring between 10 and 16 metres, capable of exceeding 70 knots. These craft are typically used in drop-off operations, acting as sea taxis that recover illicit cargoes previously jettisoned by mother ships from South America.

Four arrests and go-fast tactics

Four people were arrested on board: two Spaniards, an Albanian national resident in Italy, and a man from Gibraltar. The operation involved air surveillance with advanced maritime monitoring technology, and it was carried out in coordination with Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian authorities. Italian prosecutors in Brescia directed the investigation.

Go-fast boats have become a standard tool for organised crime groups moving cocaine toward Europe. Their speed and ability to operate far offshore make interdiction difficult, police noted in their statement. The seizure is among the largest recorded in the region this year.

European cocaine routes under pressure

Earlier this year, Europol disrupted a major trafficking corridor across the Atlantic. Between 13 and 26 April 2026, a two-week operation focused on the eastern Atlantic between the Spanish Canary Islands and the Portuguese Azores, leading to the seizure of 11 tonnes of cocaine and 8.5 tonnes of hashish. Europol has warned that criminal networks are increasingly shifting away from major ports towards fragmented, high-seas routes.

Our work proves that when law enforcement acts together, even the Atlantic is not big enough for organised crime to hide. Criminal networks are becoming increasingly flexible, and internationally connected. But our response is evolving fast too. Over a two-week operational period, law enforcement dealt a significant blow to what is known as the cocaine highway. And our work does not stop with seizures or the arrest of crew members - Europol will now build on the intelligence gathered to help identify the higher echelons of these criminal networks.