On 3 and 14 February, the Territorial Command of Setúbal arrested six people of Irish nationality for  fraud.

After being presented to court, four were remanded in custody (one awaiting extradition to France) and the other two were subject to expiration of identity and residence.

The modus operandi of this European group, known as “The Tar Gang”, consisted in providing paving services at a reduced cost, with excess tar from previous works, and only charging the value of labour.

Once the agreement was done, and before any construction construction machines arrived on site the victims were coerced to pay the full service well above the agreed value.