Year: 2014

It has been reported that there have been 18 holiday home booking scams reported to the GNR during July and August particularly in the areas of Vilamoura, Albufeira, Portimao and Olhao.

This involves holiday homes advertised on the internet and after the deposit has been paid nothing further was heard from the holiday home provider. On one day very recently 8 such complaints were made to the GNR. In one particularly case a lady lost her deposit of €700 and others have also lost amounts from €300 upwards.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP/PGR has issued an alert on this subject.

Safe Communities Algarve has comprehensive advice on this subject on its website which was drawn up following correspondence with a specialist lawyer in the UK. The advice can be found at our How to Avoid Bogus Holiday Rental scams

 

On 31st July 2014 the crime investigation unit of GNR Loulé, in collaboration with GNR Almancil, conducted an operation resulting in the attest of a 58 year old Portuguese citizen for theft.

Following a theft that had taken place in a residence the victim reported this to GNR Almancil, who commenced an investigation which located the culprit at Ilha de Faro.

A search was conducted where the culprit was staying and a number of items that had been stolen on the same day and previous day at two residences located in the Vale do  Garrão and Quinta do Lago were found and seized. This included two mobile phones, two laptops, two Iphones, an Ipad,  an LCD, an external disk, a pair of speakers and a lady’s handbag of a well know brand valued at several thousand euros. Together the objects recovered had a total estimated value of € 12,000.

In addition to these objects, a number of computer items as well as various tools and objects used in connection with the thefts were seized.

The detainee who has criminal records for drug trafficking, robbery, theft and possession of prohibited weapons, has appeared before the Judicial Court of Loulé for application of remand/reporting conditions pending trial.

Operation Welcome

On the 2^nd and 3^rd August 20124, the GNR will be conducting an operation involving increased road patrols, with the aim of supporting migrants and foreign tourists entering Portugal by land, using the boundaries of Valencia (district of Viana do Castle), Vila Verde da Raia (Vila Real district), Quintanilla (district of Bragança), Vilar Formoso (district of Guarda), Caia (district of Portalegre) and Castro Marim (Faro district).

During the operation, which will with the collaboration of Associação Estradas de Portugal, Portugal and Associação CAP MAGELLAN Association, will involve 122 GNR officers from commands at Bragança, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Guarda, Portalegre and Faro.

The GNR will provide information regarding the main causes of accidents and as rest periods, their frequency and duration. In parallel, the supervisory component will focus on driving under the influence of alcohol, speed control, the use of safety belts and child restraint systems and the condition of the tyres.

They will also distribute leaflets to drivers, developed in partnership with the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), which contain advice for the prevention of road accidents and crime. The aim of this initiative, supporting migrants and tourists visiting our country, is to reinforce the concept of “Portugal, a safe destination”, by increasing the feeling of safety and contributing to the reduction of road accidents

On 31^st July 2014 GNR  Albufeira arrested a Portuguese citizen aged 41 years for the crime of drug trafficking and illegal gun possession.

During an anti-crime operation conducted by GNR patrols they observed at the car park of Albufeira Bullring at about 03h30, an individual standing next to a car acting suspiciously. The GNR patrol approached the vehicle and its occupant and on conducting a search found 119 individual doses of cocaine inside a plastic bag from the front seat of the vehicle.

In addition to the narcotic product they discovered a firearm (pistol) with the appropriate ammunition, which was found hidden inside a garment in a hidden compartment of the vehicle. In the trunk of the car they also found and seized 24 mobile phones, 03 laptops ,a video games console, a mixing music, a drill, a safe, a precision scale, and €32 with various ATM receipts  not belonging to the target.

The detainee, a resident in the city of Faro, will appear before the Judicial District Court of Albufeira for determination of remand/reporting conditions.

The Judicial Police in the south area reported on 30^th July that they have identified and arrested three men suspected of the crime of drug trafficking.

One suspect was arrested in Olhão, as he prepared to make the sale of narcotic products and the other two were arrested in a room where they were packing the product.

In the search 159 doses of cocaine, a precision scale, other packaging equipment, mobile phones, computer equipment and a €100 in cash.

The investigations have indicated that the arrested persons are responsible for the supply of cocaine in the areas of Olhão, Faro and Loulé.

Those arrested, aged between 21 and 31 years, will be present at the first court hearing for the application of remand/reporting conditions.

SEF in the area of Viseu, have detained a foreign citizen on suspicion of committing various crimes, including pimping and aiding illegal immigration. The citizen in question is related to a number of individuals who, in the district of Viseu, ran nightlife establishments involving prostitution associated with them The prostitutes were mainly Portuguese and foreign women.

The SEF operation lasted just over a week, which included searches of multiple sites and led to the closure of an area and the establishments of several defendants.

The citizen is now under remand awaiting the outcome of court hearing

It was reported by Europol on 22nd July that a total of 36 people have been arrested and four others have been charged with belonging to an organised criminal group engaged in drugs trafficking from the Spanish enclave of Melilla into Europe. Among those arrested was the head of the criminal group, a Dutch national with Moroccan origin.

The Spanish Guardia Civil, working with Europol, also seized cannabis resin totalling over half a tonne, EUR 124 000 in cash, a sports boat, a jet ski and 22 luxury vehicles, two of which were equipped with sophisticated concealment systems. In addition computers, extensive documentation, 47 mobile phones, 3 GPS systems and a maritime GPS belonging to the boat were seized. The seizures were a result of searches carried out in houses in Melilla (5), Málaga (2), Almería (4), Madrid (2) and Amsterdam (2), a boat in Almeria and a shop in Madrid.

The investigation began in July 2013, when the Guardia Civil started to pursue an alleged international organised crime group involved in drug trafficking activities. Officers discovered vehicles equipped with false bottoms that were being used to smuggle cannabis resin from Morocco/Spain to different EU countries including the Netherlands and Germany. The vehicles were crossing from Morocco to Spain via Melilla on passenger ferries, often travelling with young children in order to avoid suspicion. The criminal groups used very sophisticated concealment techniques in bottom of the vehicles, making them almost impossible to detect. They also constantly changed vehicles and routes to avoid detection.

In addition to hosting technical meetings and providing operational support, Europol extracted data contained in the seized mobile phones and other electronic storage devices, resulting in 47 separate reports to the investigative team. In addition, Europol experts will cross-check the extracted data and carry out any appropriate intelligence analysis. International support for the operation also came from Eurojust, who coordinated activities at the judicial level including European Arrest Warrants.

On 27^th July 2014 the criminal investigation unit of GNR Loulé, in collaboration with the GNR Quarteira, conducted an operation to combat drug trafficking by executing two search warrants at two residences located in Quarteira.

The operation, was a culmination of an investigation into theft and larceny crimes, resulting in the arrest of three people aged 22, 27 and 28-year-old indicted for theft and drug trafficking.

During the operation 65 individual doses of cocaine and 25 of  hashish was also seized as well as several objects thought to be connected with the unlawful activity namely a game console, an iPod, a camera six mobile phones and even a clock.

The GNR consider that this has tackled those responsible for burglary and theft that occurred in recent days in Quarteira and Vilamoura.

Detainees, originating from the metropolitan area of ​​Lisbon, will appear at the Judicial District Court of Loulé for application of remand conditions.

On 21st July 2014 a 36 year old British national was arrested whilst leaving a hotel in Albufeira carrying a stolen backpack.

The suspect was seen by the owner of the backpack who recognized the bag as belonging to him. The GNR were called and the man arrested. According to reported the culprit lives in Lisbon and was visiting the Algarve. He is suspected carrying out at least 10 thefts in hotels in the Algarve and other areas of Portugal as well as Malaga and Ibiza.

On being seen by the owner of the backpack he tried to flee but was intercepted by the GNR.

A number of items were recovered including cash.

 

 

It was reported in the local media on 26th July 2014 that a property in Montechoro, Albufeira rented by a group of Spanish tourists had been broken into and over €100 in cash stolen.

The culprit(s) entered by breaking a rear window. According to the report they found the key to the hire car parked in the driveway but the car was not stolen. There was an attempt to break into the neighbouring houses but without success.