GNR police seized around four tonnes of hashish and three boats during an operation off the Algarve coast near Ilha Deserta, Faro.
In a statement released on Friday, the GNR said three men aged between 22 and 46 were identified on suspicion of drug trafficking offences.
According to the authorities, officers detected suspicious movements south of Ilha Deserta while carrying out routine coastal patrol and surveillance operations in the Ria Formosa area.
Maritime and land units were then deployed to investigate the suspicious activity.
Authorities believe the operation stopped around four tonnes of hashish from entering drug trafficking networks.
The military police force said increased coastal surveillance has played an important role in combating drug trafficking and preventing large quantities of narcotics from entering the illegal market.
The force added that coastal patrol and surveillance missions are carried out daily, 24 hours a day, as part of both the GNR’s general policing duties and the specific responsibilities of its Coastal and Border Control Unit.
