In a press release Thursday, the GNR announced that the Coastal and Border Control Unit (UCCF) seized approximately 6,750 litres of gasoline, which they suspected of being used to support drug trafficking.

The operation was conducted by the Sines Coastal Control detachment of the GNR's UCCF, after the Guard's military detected "suspicious movements in the vicinity of Carrapateira," a coastal area in the municipality of Aljezur, in the district of Faro, CNN Portugal reports.

According to the press release, a 58-year-old man was formally charged, and a Term of Identity and Residence was applied to him as a coercive measure.

Following coastal surveillance and control operations off the Portuguese coast, the GNR detected suspicious movements of a high-speed vessel and deployed "a force with land and air assets to monitor the movements and prevent criminal activity.”

During the operation, suspicious movements were confirmed at the Fornos Harbour, which led to which led to surveillance operations in those locations, GNR explained, which culminated in the detection and seizure of materials presumably intended to facilitate international drug trafficking.

The whole operation resulted in the seizure of a mobile phone, 270 jerrycans of fuel containing approximately 6,750 litres of gasoline, and four vehicles: three light commercial vehicles and one passenger car, according to the GNR.

Authorities believe the gasoline fuel is used by high-speed vessels that receive the drugs from larger vessels at sea. The high-speed vessels then transport the products to areas off the Portuguese coast, where it is shipped by land to other destinations in Europe.

Similar drug seizures, including jerrycans of fuel, have been frequent in recent months near the Portuguese coast, the Vicentina coast, and the Alentejo coast, or on high-speed vessels off the Algarve.

The GNR have maintained constant surveillance of the Portuguese coast, reinforcing the operational deployment, in an effort to prevent and combat drug trafficking by sea.