The project is set to commence in July, lasting 12 months, under the direction of a PJ inspector and in collaboration with the universities of Madeira and Beira Interior. It will be supported by 14 wastewater treatment plants, as announced by Deputy Director of PJ, Carlos Farinha, to the press.
The announcement followed the inaugural meeting of the wastewater study project at the Criminal Investigation Department of Madeira, in Funchal, which assembled various stakeholders.
“This is an innovation project aimed at gaining insights not only for environmental results but also to address impacts in the police and criminal sectors, extending significantly to the social sphere,” he emphasized.
As has been the case in other Portuguese and European cities, the aim is to gain enhanced understanding of new psychoactive substances and drugs’ presence in Madeira.
The deputy director explained that for one year, scheduled samplings will be conducted to establish patterns that prevent “anomalous situations” and “false information.”
“Our motivation is to apply knowledge to decision-making processes,” he stated, stressing that “the ultimate goal is to have a regional overview rather than focusing on individual municipalities.”
Highlighting the “significant impact” of psychoactive substances in the autonomous region, Carlos Farinha noted that “greater knowledge” would also lead to “better intervention decisions to mitigate their negative effects.”
“We are aware that the phenomenon of certain substances is more pronounced, frequent, and prevalent in the autonomous regions compared to continental areas,” he acknowledged.
The PJ official also noted that a meeting of European toxicology experts from the European Network of Forensic Science is scheduled for April or May 2026 in Madeira, during which “there may be some preliminary reports or results.”
Wastewater management is handled by the public company Águas e Resíduos da Madeira (ARM) in five municipalities of the archipelago, while the responsibility rests with local authorities in the remaining six.
