The former player of Porto was arrested for drug trafficking » He is a main member of the criminal group
Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Friday, March 13, 2026, 12:16 / Updated Friday, March 13, 2026 12:16
The Criminal Investigations Division of the Porto police arrested the goalkeeper Ivan Cardoso (22), a former player of the Porto club, as part of a large anti-drug operation. As a result of the raid, cocaine, weapons and luxury vehicles were seized.
At the end of the operation, the authorities confiscated three kilograms of heroin, half a kilogram of cocaine, small amounts of hashish and amphetamines, as well as one and a half kilograms of a substance used to dilute drugs.
Ivan Cardoso, former Porto player, was arrested for drug trafficking
The 22-year-old footballer, along with 16 other people, was detained on charges of belonging to one of the largest drug trafficking networks in the Cerco do Porto neighborhood.
Cardoso, who played for Porto's second team, is considered by investigators to be an important member of the criminal organization, according to marca.es.
Ivan Cardoso played for Porto's second team, a club he left in 2023, after completing his youth at its academy.
The former Porto player is seen by investigators as one of the five main members of the criminal network.
His role was to purchase the drugs and distribute them, so that they would later be sold on the street by other members of the network.
The police investigation, which began in October 2024, revealed that the criminal group had established a security system consisting of sentries who used firearms to react violently to any interference, including from the police.
