The Spanish government is pressuring Portugal to ban the production of high-speed boats used to transport drug traffickers, especially in the areas of Campo de Gibraltar and Galicia. Spain’s intention will be confirmed this Friday in Madrid during a meeting that will bring together the Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and the Portuguese Minister of the Interior, Margarida Blasco.
Galician newspaper Faro de Vigo said the meeting would facilitate “better coordination of actions.” [entre os dois países] in the dismantling and destruction of ships carrying drugs.” In essence, “Spain wants Portugal to apply the same rules and work together [com as polícias do país vizinho]”, where the production of this type of vessel is prohibited by law, unlike what happens here.
Since 2018, Spain has criminalized the ownership and production of high-speed boats, which authorities suspect are being built in industrial facilities in northern Portugal.
Faro de Vigo even claims that Spanish drug traffickers have created a “logistical and technical network” to build these powerful vessels, which allow drugs to be transported from merchant ships – or even from the Moroccan coast – to Spain.