An alert received at 02:50 a.m., through the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisboa), reported a vessel of Spanish nationality drifting and putting water off Barra do Lavajo (Armona), with two crew members on board.
Elements of the local command of the Olhão Maritime Police and the Olhão Lifeguard Station were immediately activated to the site and, when they went to the site, they detected bales of hashish floating, marking the position for later collection, giving priority to the rescue of the two men.
After detection of the vessel with the two individuals on board, it was found that they did not need any type of medical assistance, and the vessel was towed to the dock of the Olhão Lifeguard Station and seized as a precautionary measure. The individuals were taken to the local command of the Maritime Police of Olhão for identification and subsequent detection for questioning by the Judicial Police of Faro.
The narcotic product was taken to the local command of the Maritime Police of Olhão and delivered to the Judicial Police of Faro, in order to carry out the investigation steps.
In the operation participated two Navy ships (NRP Sagittarius and NRP Dragon), which carried out searches at sea, and means of the National Maritime Authority, operated by the Maritime Police Olhão and Faro and the Lifeguard Station of Olhão, for the searches in the interior of the Ria Formosa.