A package containing one kilogram of cocaine was collected during a clean-up operation on the island of Selvagem Pequena, in Madeira, by crews from the Portuguese Navy ship Zaire.
According to a statement from the Navy, crew members were carrying out an ocean cleaning operation on the island of Selvagem Pequena. During the operation, they collected 211 kilos of marine litter, including a suspicious package.
The Navy confirmed that the clean-up programme took place on Monday, the 11th of August, as part of the environmental project “Litter Free,” initiative, promoted by the Regional Directorate for the Environment and Sea of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
The operation covered about 80 metres of the coastline and aims to contribute “to the preservation of the ecosystems of the Selvagens Islands and fight against marine pollution.” All rubbish collected was brought back to the Port of Funchal.
“During this operation, a suspicious package was identified among the waste collected, weighing about one kilogram and wrapped in several layers of plastic,” reads the Naval document.
They further add that the object was transferred to the local command of the Maritime Police and, “after preliminary inspection and rapid testing, the presence of cocaine was detected. This means that the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Judiciary Police will initiate an investigation.
The initiative is part of the regional monitoring program for marine litter on Madeira’s beaches, which has been in force since 2019, as part of the continuous effort to protect biodiversity and reduce litter through innovative approaches.
In the statement, the Navy and the National Maritime Authority reaffirm their commitment to the protection and preservation of the marine environment, as well as the safety, legality, and conservation of maritime spaces under national sovereignty or jurisdiction, and fully collaborate with the authorities in the ongoing investigation.
The Selvagens Islands are the southernmost Portuguese territory.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
