A 61-year-old man was detained on Wednesday, July 9, by the Public Security Police (PSP) of Leiria to comply with the preventive detention measure, as he is suspected of drug trafficking. Two other suspects are required to report twice a week to a police station.
In a statement, the PSP reported that this arrest was part of Operation Code, which in January 2025 resulted “in six arrests and several home and non-home searches.”
The authorities also noted that “preventive detention had already been ordered by the Judicial Court of Leiria for three of the six detainees.” The remaining ones were subjected to the measure of Statement of Identity and Residence.
However, “the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) appealed the decision” regarding “the individuals who were left with only the Statement of Identity and Residence.”
As a result, the Court of Appeal of Coimbra “applied the most severe coercive measure, preventive detention, to a 61-year-old suspect.” The other two suspects, aged 76 and 77, “must report twice a week to the police station closest to their residence.”
Referring to the 2024 Annual Internal Security Report (RASI), maritime smuggling of hashish continues to have a high number of occurrences on the Algarve coast, an area that requires increased attention from the authorities. Nevertheless, the total seized quantity dropped more than 80% last year compared to 2023, alongside a decrease in seizures.
The data also indicate a 28.3% decrease in this type of crime. Drug seizures fell by 24.7%, and arrests declined by 36.6%. Only heroin and ecstasy seizures showed an increase of 127.7% and 138.3%, respectively.
Geographically, Lisbon was the district where authorities seized the most hashish and cocaine last year, while Porto was the district where the most heroin was seized.
The document also revealed that 4,820 people were arrested, most of whom were Portuguese nationals (3,694).
Among various data, the document reported that violent and serious crime increased, while general crime decreased, and juvenile delinquency has been rising since 2021.
Notícias ao Minuto com Lusa | 19:39 – 31/03/2025
In general, criminal organizations possess high technological and financial capabilities and, according to the RASI, they may resort to corruption of employees, both in the public and private sectors, to facilitate drug movement, especially cocaine.
Furthermore, in cocaine trafficking, the RASI warned of a growing threat in recent years related to criminal networks infiltrating seaports and airports through the recruitment of employees.
