Obélix, Mochila Mágica, and Dunas are three of the most recent operations to which Portuguese authorities have given notably imaginative names.
The creativity of Portuguese law enforcement in naming their operations is not new. It has a history spanning many years, perhaps decades.
Among the most talked-about were Operation Marquês, involving former Prime Minister José Sócrates, to Operation Fénix from 2014, when the PSP dismantled a nightlife gang that was deactivated and then resurfaced much like the mythical phoenix rising from the ashes, to those that have since faded from the headlines such as Guns’n’Roses, Carta Fora do Baralho, Banana Mix, and Remédio Santo. Numerous cases over the years have captured the attention of the Portuguese public.
Contrary to what some might think, there is no special creative figure in Portuguese police forces responsible for this task. The responsibility falls to the investigating officers themselves, as disclosed by the National Republican Guard (GNR) in 2023.
Recall some of the cases with the most creative investigation names ever devised by Portuguese authorities.
Natacha Nunes Costa | 10:44 – 29/06/2023
This practice is the same in investigations involving the Public Security Police (PSP), the Judiciary Police (PJ), and ASAE.
Usually, the naming of operations “is associated with the theme of the operation,” but in code, allowing for discussions without divulging details that might jeopardize the operation, as the choices are not obvious.
Recall some of the most recent operations with creative names:
Obélix – The PJ’s Obélix operation occurred last week, resulting in the arrest of an endocrinologist and the charging of other suspects for allegedly defrauding the National Health Service (SNS) of about three million euros through the improper and extensive prescription of drugs like Ozempic to fake diabetics seeking weight loss.
Mochila Mágica – This operation, reported last Friday by Notícias ao Minuto, aimed to dismantle a criminal network repeatedly stealing from supermarkets and selling the stolen goods. So far, GNR has arrested suspects.
Dunas – This investigation by the PJ and the Public Prosecutor’s Office focuses on suspicions of “corruption, forgery, money laundering, and economic involvement in business” in the granting of a 40-year contract for the operation of a maritime area in the Harbor of Refuge of Nazaré, with searches carried out in various entities, including the Nazaré City Council, the Portuguese Environment Agency, Docapesca, the Directorate of Lighthouses, and the Regional Coordination and Development Commission of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley.
Carta Branca – The Carta Branca operation by the PJ resulted in the arrest of four people (three men and a woman, aged between 24 and 46) on suspicion of bank card fraud, with losses exceeding half a million euros.
Double Click – This PJ operation is related to fake vacation home rental ads in Gerês and led to the arrest of a couple, aged 52 and 43. They are suspected of amassing thousands of euros unlawfully.
Gambérria – Recently, two Ministry of Health employees were arrested for allegedly fraudulently registering thousands of immigrants in the National Health Service (SNS) in exchange for money. The women are facing charges of corruption, aiding illegal immigration, and computer fraud.
Pikachu – At the year’s start, this operation garnered attention. A trio of youths was arrested in Lisbon with various drugs and thousands of euros in cash. The operation’s name was inspired by the designs on the drug packages seized.
