The government delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, reaffirmed that “we will not stop until we end drug trafficking and organized crime in Galicia”. A commitment shown, he explained, in the 500 kilos of cocaine seized in the port of Vigo within the so-called Operation Sapo-Puma, a joint operation between the National Police, the Tax Agency and the Xudiciary Police of Portugal, which allowed to intercept a total of 1,000 kg of cocaine. Three people were arrested in Portugal and the operation is still open, so no further arrests are ruled out.
Pedro Blanco went to the Vigo Police Station this morning to announce the details of the operation. He was accompanied by the provincial commissioner, Juan José Díaz Jiménez, head of the provincial commissariat of Pontevedra; by the chief commissioner of the local commissariat of Vigo-Redonda, Ramiro Gómez, together with the chief inspector of section of GRECO Galicia, Emilio Rodriguez and the head of the Combined Customs Surveillance Unit, Laura Piñeiro
Pedro Blanco congratulated all the units involved in this “successful operation”, professionals who, he explained, “provide a quality public service that is often not perceived by the citizens and that the Government wants to put in value.” Thus, he highlighted in particular the work of Customs Surveillance, GRECO and UDYCO Group 2. “You are an example of the intense and laborious work that the State Security Forces and Bodies carry out on the Galician coast to guarantee security and citizen coexistence,” he said.
The government delegate explained that the drug came from South America and was intercepted in 2 shipments, one game was hidden inside containers of juices and was confiscated in Sines (Portugal) and another in the interior of melons without pulp, seized in Vigo. The latter, came in a container from Brazil, with 21 pallets of fruit, which hid bags of rubber with cocaine. For this reason, Operation Sapo shows for the delegate “fruitful cooperation that we maintain with the Portuguese authorities, a key partner with which we will continue to collaborate in the police and judicial field”.
Pedro Blanco stressed that the Government of Spain is aware of the reality in the fight against the complex phenomenon of drug trafficking. Thus, he pointed out that the Government is working to strengthen human, material and technological resources, as well as new coordination measures to adapt them to the new challenges. Finally, he highlighted and thanked the “commitment of all the actors involved in this fight”.