The National Republican Guard (GNR) has dismantled a criminal network dedicated to repeated thefts in commercial establishments (shoplifting) across the national territory, arresting six men and two women, aged between 19 and 65, in the municipalities of Lisbon and Sintra.
The investigation, detailed by the GNR in a statement sent this Friday to Notícias ao Minuto, lasted about 13 months and began with the monitoring of an initial core of the criminal group, whose members were already known for multiple thefts in supermarkets.
During this time, the authorities discovered the existence of an organized structure “composed of individuals responsible for the systematic removal of items in large commercial areas and others dedicated to the receipt, transport, and disposal of the stolen goods, later resold in stores and street markets.”
The illicit activity, according to the military, provided significant profits to the suspects, being their main means of subsistence, without any form of regulation or taxation, causing substantial damages to the Portuguese state.
The group operated from North to South of the country, although the network was based in Lisbon.
During the operation, named Magic Backpack, GNR officers realized that the stolen items were then resold in traditional commerce, “generating substantial income for the receivers.”
Over 100 thousand euros in thefts
To date, the total value of the stolen goods exceeds 100 thousand euros. The operation seized over 70 thousand euros in cash and froze several accounts of the suspects, amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros.
More than 2 kg of various gold items were also seized, along with thousands of personal hygiene products, alcoholic beverages, and various food products, estimated to be worth over 90 thousand euros.
The GNR continues the investigation to completely neutralize these criminal groups, recover goods, and hold all involved accountable in court.
The operation was reinforced by the Criminal Investigation Nuclei of the Lisbon and Setúbal Territorial Command and the Public Order Intervention Group of the Intervention Unit (UI).
