A 39-year-old Portuguese man, wanted for the sexual abuse of minors, was captured this week in Bilbao, Spain.
The arrest was carried out by the National Police. The individual had been evading justice since 2017 and was the subject of a European arrest warrant issued by Luxembourg, the country where the crimes are believed to have been committed.
The Portuguese man is suspected of sexually abusing two minors from his own family.
Following his arrest, he appeared for an initial judicial hearing in Spain but was subsequently released under “protective measures until the extradition process to Luxembourg is completed.”
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior stated, “This operation is another example of the effectiveness of international police and judicial cooperation, which allows for the location and apprehension of dangerous criminals attempting to hide in other European Union countries.”
The Spanish government also applauded the fact that “thanks to the coordination between specialized groups of the National Police and collaboration with the National Court, the European warrant was executed, ensuring that the wanted person will face justice for the serious crimes he is accused of.”
