A total of 582 people, three of them foreigners, have been detained in the country since January last year in connection with drug trafficking.

The information was given today, Wednesday (17), by the Minister of the Interior, Pascoal Ronda, on the first day of questions to the government in Parliament.

According to the government official, 483 criminal cases were opened in connection with drug trafficking during this period, with two cases involving international arrest warrants.

In the same vein, the national authorities extradited two citizens, one to the Netherlands and the other to Angola, the latter in possession of identification documents and diplomatic passports from various countries.

"Investigations are continuing with a view to uncovering possible internal and international connections related to the extradited and others involved in this type of criminal activity," said Pascoal Ronda, quoted by Domingo.

Meanwhile, this year alone, from January to April 15, the source said that 55 kilograms (kg) of cocaine, 585.55 kg of methamphetamine, 30 kg of hashish, 520 kg of n-acetylanthranilic acid and 488.74 kg of cannabis sativa had been seized.

"As a result, the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) carried out a series of operations in the places most prone to the sale and consumption of drugs, which culminated in the dismantling of 800 smokehouses," he added.