It was reported on 1st October that the Judicial Police South executed a European Arrest Warrant and arrested a man wanted by French justice for criminal conspiracy, pimping and money laundering. The arrest took place in a villa on the outskirts of Boliqueime area to the west of Loule. According to a Safe Communities Algarve source locals in the area, reported seeing police activity in the village concerned just prior to the arrest.

The detainee, is a Dutch national living in the villa from where he operated the “prostitution ring”. He attracted clients in London , Paris and Amsterdam and linked them up with women in France, England and Romania, charging according to one source up to €500 per hour.

During the arrest the accused was found to be in procession of about €8500, £11,000, three computers, four mobile phones and various jewellery, which were seized. Subsequently the operation involved the seizure of bank accounts with deposits amounting to around €200,000.

The man is understood to have been under investigation by the French police for around a year and they recently requested assistance from the Portuguese Judicial Police.

The detainee, 55 years old, will appear at the Court of Appeal of Évora for application to be remanded in custody pending extradition to the French judicial authorities.