A 22-year-old man was arrested last Thursday, September 4, on suspicion of robbery and drug trafficking at the Monsanto Camping Park in Lisbon.
In a statement released this Thursday, the Public Security Police (PSP) explained that the arrest took place late in the afternoon of September 4, when the victim, a foreign citizen, saw an individual leaving his tent, located in the camping park, and heading towards another tent with an object in hand.
Upon entering his tent, the victim realized that an “electrical extension cord, measuring 10 meters, an adapter plug from the European electrical system to the American system, and a small extension transformer from three-phase to single-phase electricity” had been stolen.
Having seen an individual leaving his tent, the foreigner suspected he might be the perpetrator of the theft and “went to the suspect’s tent,” discovering that the “suspect was connecting his stolen items from inside his tent.”
The victim attempted to retrieve his items, but the suspect brandished “a firearm concealed at his waist with a garment and threatened him.”
Fearing “for his physical safety,” the victim “immediately went to the camping park’s reception to report the incident,” prompting a police alert.
Upon arrival, officers approached the tent and found the suspect inside. All “security measures” were taken due to “strong indications that the suspect was carrying a firearm.”
The police identified themselves and ordered the suspect to exit the tent. Outside, the young man underwent a security search, and officers discovered that the weapon, despite “appearing and weighing like firearms used by Security Forces and Services,” was an airgun.
When questioned about the stolen items, the suspect indicated they were inside the tent and consented to a search by officers.
In total, along with the electrical extension, two CO2 gas cartridges used as propellants for the seized weapon, two ammunition refills, 90 individual doses of hashish, and 830 euros were seized.
“Given the seized narcotics and the monetary amount in small denomination notes, it leads to the suspicion that the suspect, taking advantage of the park’s secure environment, away from police oversight and with customers nearby, had set up a tent for drug trafficking,” the PSP stated.
Following a preliminary judicial hearing, the young man was subjected to the coercive measures of a Term of Identity and Residence and banned from attending the Monsanto Camping Park and the Benfica area.
