More than 20 immigrants, almost all legally residing in Portugal, were found living in a warehouse in Loures, which was functioning as illegal accommodation, reported the Public Security Police (PSP) on Tuesday.
This discovery was part of a police operation conducted by the Lisbon Metropolitan PSP Command, coordinated and planned by the Foreigners and Border Control Unit and the Loures Police Division.
The operation, which began at 7 a.m. and concluded at 2 p.m., targeted a warehouse in the Union of Parishes of Santa Iria de Azoia, São João da Talha, and Bobadela. This location was being used for illegal housing without any licensing, as part of a crackdown on foreign nationals. The PSP was assisted by various departments of the Loures Municipal Council.
In total, the PSP inspected “24 foreign nationals, with all but one being in legal status within the country.” As a result, authorities issued a “notification for voluntary departure due to irregular status” and filed a report for document forgery, along with the confiscation of the document in question.
The PSP also filed a report of administrative offense related to irregular immigration.
Involved in the operation were the Enforcement Brigades of the Foreigners and Borders Unit, Rapid Intervention Teams, the Lisbon Metropolitan Command’s Enforcement Brigades, and the Foreigners Enforcement Brigades of the National PSP’s Integrated Border Management Department.
The PSP had further support from various sectors of the Loures Municipal Council, specifically from the Urban Department, Municipal Police, and Civil Protection. This intervention resulted in “multiple reports of administrative offenses for various infractions and illegalities detected.”
The operation took place “without incident.”
PSP Finds Individuals Living Illegally in Evangelical Church in Loures
Notably, at the start of this month, also in Loures, the PSP discovered dozens of individuals living in “a warehouse of an evangelical church in São João da Talha,” as part of their efforts against illegal housing. Most of these individuals were immigrants, also in legal status in the country.
The 45 foreign nationals inspected during today’s operation in a warehouse allegedly used for illegal housing in an evangelical church in Loures were found to be legally residing in Portugal, according to the PSP.
Lusa | 16:45 – 05/06/2025
It is noteworthy that the Loures Council plans to develop a municipal strategy by the end of June to enhance immigrant integration and tackle prejudices against these communities.
The project is being promoted in collaboration with local entities and funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (EIF), through the High Commission for Migrations.
The Loures Council aims to formulate a municipal plan by the end of June to improve immigrant integration within the municipality and combat prejudices against these communities.
Lusa | 09:44 – 11/04/2015
