A High-Stakes Interception

In a major international operation early on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (EAT), Portuguese authorities, supported by British and American anti-narcotics agencies, intercepted a semi-submersible vessel carrying 1.7 tonnes of cocaine in the mid-Atlantic. The vessel, commonly known as a ‘narco-sub’, was apprehended approximately 1,852 kilometres (1,000 nautical miles) off the coast of Lisbon and was destined for Europe’s Iberian Peninsula. Four crew members—two Ecuadorian nationals, one Venezuelan, and one Colombian—were arrested and subsequently remanded in pre-trial custody by a court in the Azores, as confirmed by Portuguese officials on Wednesday, November 5.

The operation, codenamed 'El Dorado', was triggered by intelligence from the Lisbon-based Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC), a multinational European agency. The seizure involved a coordinated effort between the Portuguese Navy and Judiciary Police, the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Vítor Ananias, head of Portugal's drug trafficking combat unit, stated at a press conference that the diverse nationalities of the crew underscored the transnational nature of the criminal organization behind the shipment. Due to poor weather and its fragile construction, the narco-sub sank after the seizure, preventing its tow to shore, the Portuguese navy reported.

The Kenyan Connection: A Growing Transit Hub

While the Atlantic seizure may seem geographically distant, it is a critical indicator of the evolving tactics of global drug syndicates that directly impact East Africa. Security analysts and international bodies like the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have identified a strategic shift, with South American cartels increasingly using both West and East Africa as transit points to Europe and Asia. According to a September 2025 report by African Security Analysis, Kenya is transforming from a mere transit stop into a significant logistics hub and a growing domestic market for cocaine.

The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime confirmed in a February 2024 report that increasing volumes of cocaine from South America are arriving in Kenyan, Tanzanian, and Mozambican ports, often concealed in container ships or transferred at sea to smaller local vessels. This 'lusophone route' sees Brazil as a primary departure point for narcotics heading across the southern Atlantic to Africa. This trend not only facilitates onward trafficking but also fuels local consumption, posing a significant public health and security challenge for the region.

Cartel Infiltration and Local Law Enforcement Challenges

The threat to Kenya is not abstract. Recent events have shown direct attempts by powerful cartels to establish a foothold. In September 2024, Kenyan authorities uncovered a makeshift methamphetamine laboratory in Namanga, Kajiado County, allegedly operated by an operative of Mexico's notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The bust, which involved the arrest of a former Mexican police officer, Nigerian nationals, and Kenyan collaborators, exposed a global network aiming to use Kenya as a production and distribution hub for East Africa.

Kenyan law enforcement agencies, often in partnership with international bodies like INTERPOL and the UNODC, are escalating their response. The Kenya Coast Guard Service has enhanced patrols, leading to significant seizures, including a recent bust of over one tonne of methamphetamine valued at KES 8 billion in the Indian Ocean in October 2025. However, traffickers exploit vulnerabilities such as vast coastlines, corruption, and weaknesses within the criminal justice system to operate. The UNODC has noted that while seizures are increasing, they likely represent only a fraction of the total volume of narcotics transiting through the region.

Global Implications and the Way Forward

The use of sophisticated methods like narco-submarines, which are notoriously difficult to detect, demonstrates the immense resources and determination of these transnational criminal organizations. The Atlantic interception is part of a larger pattern of record global cocaine production and trafficking, which surged by 35 percent between 2020 and 2021 alone, according to the UNODC. As traditional routes to North America and Europe face heightened surveillance, cartels are aggressively diversifying their pathways, making Africa a central battleground in the global war on drugs. For Kenya, this seizure serves as a stark reminder that international drug trafficking is not a distant problem but a clear and present danger that demands sustained, intelligence-led, and cross-border security cooperation to protect its ports, communities, and the stability of the wider East African region.