The amount of cocaine seized by the Judiciary Police this year already represents the highest value of the decade, according to a report by Diário de Notícias.

Cited by the newspaper, Artur Vaz, leader of the police unit that fights drug trafficking, the National Unit to Combat Drug Trafficking (UNCTE), played down the importance of the amount of drugs found by the authorities and instead highlighted that the most important thing “is to dismantle networks and arrest the traffickers”.

According to the Insightcrime report, cocaine seizures account for only 10 to 20% of the total amount of the drug circulating in the country. The high amount of drugs seized this year is, however, far below the 36 tonnes seized in 2006.

Analysts at the think tank also point out that "from a business perspective, cocaine trafficking to Europe is much more attractive than to the US".

"Prices are significantly higher, and the risks of interdiction, extradition and seizure of goods are significantly lower. A kilo of cocaine in the United States is worth around €28,000. That same kilo is worth around €40,000 in Europe on average, but it can reach €80,000 in other European countries".

The increase in cocaine in Portugal is leading the authorities to predict a rise in levels of violence. According to the report “Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment”, cocaine trafficking is “a key criminal activity for criminal networks and involves a large number of individuals.”

The situation is particularly serious in Europe, where the values ​​charged are much more attractive to traffickers. “Some networks are organized into several cells that operate in different territories. The booming cocaine market has resulted in an increase in deaths, shootings, bombings, arson, kidnappings, torture and intimidation," the report highlights.