Cocaine seizures in Portugal increase by 20% in 2025

The number of cocaine seizures in Portugal rose by 20.6% in 2025, with the volume of the drug seized increasing by 11.4% compared to 2024. Data presented by the Judiciary Police (PJ) shows 25.63 tonnes were seized across 1,984 operations, with 95% occurring via maritime routes. A total of 1,773 people were arrested, mostly men over 40, with the majority being Portuguese nationals. Brazil remains the primary entry point for the drug. The Azores and Madeira recorded the highest quantities seized, while Lisbon and Porto saw the highest number of individual seizure incidents. Additionally, cannabis (hashish) seizures rose by 102.6% to 14,879.74 kg, despite a slight decrease in the total number of seizure cases.