The Polícia Judiciária (PJ) arrested a foreign national early this morning upon arrival at the Figo Maduro Military Airport from a flight originating in Guinea-Bissau. The individual is accused of smuggling and money laundering.
Reports indicate that the suspect is a person closely associated with Sissoco Embaló, the recently deposed president of Guinea-Bissau, as initially covered by local media. Furthermore, it has been reported that Embaló’s wife was also on the flight but was not detained by the authorities.
According to sources, the PJ suspects the pair was sent ahead to Portugal with funds to secure the family’s standard of living. The ousted president was expected to join his wife later in Lisbon, where Embaló might seek political asylum, claiming a lack of safety in Guinea-Bissau, which recently experienced a political coup at the end of November.
The PJ issued a statement detailing that an anonymous tip-off prompted their operations, which were conducted overnight in collaboration with the Tax Authority. The suspect’s luggage reportedly contained approximately five million euros in cash.
The flight had been initially reported as military, landing in Lisbon for a brief stopover before passengers were to continue to Beja. However, it was later discovered that the nature of the flight and its destination differed from what was initially reported to air authorities.
The individual associated with Embaló will appear before a judicial hearing where appropriate pre-trial measures will be determined.
[Updated at 16:48]
