The Territorial Command of Leiria of the Republican National Guard (GNR), through the Caldas da Rainha Criminal Investigation Division (NIC), dismantled a drug trafficking network on Monday and arrested 12 individuals in the municipalities of Bombarral, Peniche, Lourinhã, Torres Vedras, Alenquer, Coruche, and Cartaxo.
The security force disclosed on Tuesday that the operation was part of an investigation into drug trafficking, possession of prohibited weapons, and criminal association, which had been ongoing since April 2024.
As part of this investigation, GNR officers executed 28 search warrants, including 11 residential and 17 vehicle searches, in the municipalities of Bombarral, Peniche, Lourinhã, Torres Vedras, Alenquer, Coruche, and Cartaxo.
The searches resulted in the seizure of nine automobiles; 18 mobile phones; two digital scales; a balaclava; a homemade wooden and nail weapon; a firearm loaded with six bullets; 28 bullets; a shotgun; an air rifle; an LCD; 500 doses of cocaine; €68,215 in cash; and several drug packaging bags.
Twelve individuals were arrested—eight men and four women, aged between 20 and 56 years, for drug trafficking. Eight of the detainees remain in custody and are set to appear before the Judicial Court of Leiria today, September 2, for coercive measure hearings.
The operation also led to three men, aged between 19 and 35, being named as defendants for the same criminal offenses.
Additionally, according to the GNR, the Environmental Protection Unit (NPA) of Torres Vedras issued two administrative offense notices during the operation, relating to poor hygiene conditions for dogs and the failure to register reptiles with the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF).
The action was supported by the Criminal Investigation, Territorial, Public Order, Canine, and Nature and Environment Protection units of the Territorial Commands of Leiria, Santarém, Lisbon, Coimbra, Aveiro, and Portalegre, as well as the Intervention Unit (UI).
