The Judiciary Police (PJ) has reported that fake advertisements related to the sale of heavy machinery were placed by the suspects. “They sought to gain advantage through the anonymity and identity concealment offered by digital means. Through these schemes, they are believed to have illicitly obtained several thousand euros,” it adds.
The police operation, titled Double Click and led by the PJ in Braga, took place in Santiago do Cacém, Bombarral, and Columbeira as part of an investigation overseen by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Vieira do Minho.
The arrests occurred on Wednesday outside of any immediate criminal act.
“The investigation determined that both detainees are repeat offenders, linked to multiple pending criminal cases stemming from similar offenses, which have previously resulted in convictions to effective prison sentences for similar illegal activities,” states the report.
Despite these convictions, the suspects “continued their criminal activities, using new technological strategies and increasingly sophisticated methods.”
According to the PJ, “a pattern of evasive behavior was noted in their modus operandi and modus vivendi, characterized by failure to appear at procedural summonses and systematic concealment of their whereabouts, displaying blatant disregard for the justice system and a sense of untouchability.”
The investigation began approximately a year ago, leading to three residential and four non-residential searches conducted across various parts of the country, resulting in the seizure of materials, documents, and computer equipment used in the crimes.
A vehicle belonging to one of the suspects, marked for seizure in a separate inquiry due to being unlawfully retained past its rental agreement, was also recovered. The suspect is similarly charged with breach of trust.
The detainees, aged 43 and 52, reportedly lived as a couple without any known professional occupation, “sustaining themselves through repeated acts of fraud since at least 2023.”
They will face a preliminary judicial interrogation for the imposition of coercive measures.
Meanwhile, the PJ’s investigation will continue to fully elucidate the facts and identify all victims.
