The police operation resulted in almost fifteen house searches on Sunday morning, in several locations in the north and south of the municipality of Figueira da Foz, and in that coastal city, and also in Coimbra, within the scope of an investigation into drug trafficking that has been ongoing for about two years.

A PSP source told the Lusa agency that the seven detainees - aged between 19 and 41, with the majority between 20 and 25 - are suspected of supplying drugs to young students near schools in Figueira da Foz and also in night entertainment areas such as Bairro Novo (tourist area around the local Casino).

According to the same source, the police investigation into drug trafficking, carried out by the Criminal Investigation Squad of the Figueira da Foz Police Division of the Coimbra PSP District Command, began about two years ago, after the seizure of five kilos of drugs, within the scope of another process.

In a statement, the Coimbra PSP indicated that, in addition to the seven detainees, 1,463 doses of narcotics (1084 doses of hashish, 366 doses of cannabis leaf and 13 doses of ecstasy) were seized, as well as two cannabis plants, in various stages of maturation, more than 9,700 euros and 1,160 euros in counterfeit notes.

"With the arrest of the seven individuals, who, in the practice of the crime of trafficking, had the young student population as their target audience, the PSP intends to convey a greater sense of security to the school community and nightlife venues", reads the press release.

On the occasion, several weapons were also seized, namely a shotgun (side-by-side shotgun) of caliber 12, which was "recovered within the scope of a theft process", a 6.35 mm pistol with five rounds of the same caliber, two reproductions of firearms, one of them for recreational practices (airsoft), an automatic opening knife and several rounds of different calibers.

15 mobile phones and "different utensils associated with trafficking" were also seized, including four precision scales and two digital scales and five cannabis grinders.

The operation, which according to the press release "took place without public order incidents", involved, according to the police source, more than 80 officers from the PSP commands of Coimbra, Aveiro and Leiria, as well as military personnel from various GNR branches.

Six of the seven detainees will be presented on Tuesday to the Coimbra Criminal Investigation Court, for the application of possible coercive measures, said the PSP.

Read Also: Preventive detention for detainees for being part of a drug trafficking network in the North (Portuguese version)