The detained individuals are required to report twice weekly and are prohibited from contacting witnesses and consumers, stated Ricardo Serrano Vieira, the lawyer for two of the defendants, to Lusa news agency.
During the interrogation which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Criminal Investigation Judge did not impose any coercive measures on a woman who was made a defendant and notified to appear in court but had not been detained, explained the same source.
The National Republican Guard (GNR) announced on Tuesday the arrest of eight men and four women, aged between 20 and 56 years, for drug trafficking in several municipalities in the districts of Leiria, Lisbon, and Santarém, and the seizure of 500 doses of cocaine.
The 12 suspects were detained in the municipalities of Bombarral, Peniche (Leiria), Lourinhã, Torres Vedras, Alenquer (Lisbon), Coruche, and Cartaxo (Santarém).
As part of the operation, which had been under investigation since April 2024, law enforcement officers executed 28 search warrants, including 11 residential and 17 vehicle searches.
The operation resulted in the seizure of nine vehicles, 18 mobile phones, two digital scales, 500 doses of cocaine, €68,215 in cash, and several drug packaging bags.
Additionally, a LCD, a balaclava, a homemade weapon constructed from wood and nails, and a firearm with six rounds of ammunition, 28 additional bullets, a shotgun, and an air rifle were seized.
During the proceedings, two infractions were recorded by the Environmental Protection Unit (NPA) of Torres Vedras for issues including a lack of dog hygiene and unregistered reptiles with the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF).
In the action, three more men, aged between 19 and 35, were charged with the same crimes.
