Since the beginning of the year, about 23 tons of hashish have been seized off the coast of the Algarve in various anti-drug operations by maritime authorities, navies, air forces and judicial police. In total, 14 boats have already been intercepted and 34 drug trafficking suspects have been arrested. The last action took place this Tuesday at dawn 70 miles from the coast (129 kilometers). A boat carrying more than 2.5 tons of hashish was intercepted, two Moroccans and a Spaniard were arrested. “Tactical changes have taken place and the results are just around the corner. We are hijacking more ships, more drugs and more suspects,” said Sousa Luis, a spokesman for the Maritime Authority and the Navy. During the operation, two more speedboats were discovered, which fled, and the engine of the captured vessel was damaged. The JV is trying to “find out if there are one or more networks involved in these traffics in the Algarve that serve as a gateway for drugs to the European market,” said Fernando Jordão of the Southern Directorate.