"Most of it [referring to the seized drug] was in individual doses. Some drugs, very few, were seized in their pure state” said the Commander of the 1st Criminal Investigation Squad of the Oporto PSP Command Division, João Soeima.

On 24 September, the Oporto PSP arrested 15 people suspected of drug trafficking in an operation described as "large scale" that took place in the Pasteleira Nova neighbourhood of Oporto.

The detainees are between 21 and 53 years old and the operation involved 48 agents of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Command of the Porto PSP.

A police source revealed to the Lusa agency that "the high quantity of various drugs" seized was "in the accounts".

Already on 25 September, along with the seized material, João Soeima specified that about 7,000 individual doses were seized, totalling six kilos of heroin, 1,800 of cocaine, as well as "some amphetamines and cannabis".

In addition to firearms, including a modified hunting rifle and pistols, about 12,000 Euros in cash and three safes were also found in three different homes.

"All cash, both in notes and coins, is of low fiduciary value. Because of the way it was spread throughout the homes, we have no doubt that it was the result of direct drug sales", described João Soeima.

The commander also revealed that this investigation is the result of three enquiries instituted by the Public Prosecutor's Office, through the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) in Oporto, and has been underway "for some months now".

"By the nature of the three enquiries, we can say that the investigation is between two and a half and three months (...). There was a correlation between all of them [people arrested] in the occupation of the space, in the occupation of the direct selling times. They would have a sophisticated organisation", he said.

The seizures and arrests took place in the Pasteleira Nova neighbourhood, in Oporto, and João Soeima pointed out that, "due to the importance and volume of drugs found, not only in this operation but also in others", this will be "an area that will have some regional relevance" in drug trafficking.