Azores Situation Report Wednesday 21st August 2024
By our correspondent in the Azores
Couple arrested in São Miguel with 38 kilos of drugs
The Judicial Police (PJ) announced that it carried out a police operation in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, which led to the arrest of a couple, due to strong evidence of drug trafficking, and the seizure of 37.3 kilos of hashish, 362 grams of heroin and 309 grams of cocaine that were in their possession.
Azorean firefighters are operating in Madeira
Azorean volunteers arrived in Madeira on Monday to fight the fire that broke out on the island last Wednesday. “A lot of burned area and difficult access” was the scene they found
The group of 15 Azorean firefighters arrived in Madeira at 2:00 am local time on Monday morning to help fight the fire that broke out last Wednesday in the neighbouring archipelago.
Coordinating Inspector Luís Martins, who is accompanying the Azorean firefighters in Madeira, describes the scene they found upon arrival: “a lot of burned area and very difficult access. The active fronts are not fronts with large flames, but they are always very difficult to access, going up or down the slopes.”
The Coordinating Inspector guarantees that all the elements that travelled to Madeira Island “have training in fighting rural fires, they have knowledge of this type of operations and some have even been here during the 2016 fires, and performed excellently.”
According to Luís Martins, the group of Azorean volunteers, which is based in the 3rd Garrison Regiment, located in Funchal, is working “in harmony with local entities”, more specifically with the local fire departments.
“Civil Protection assigned the mission, and we fulfilled that mission”, assures Luís Martins, adding that the operation is expected “to take an average of three to five days, but there is no information on a return date for now.”
“We are evolving in our operations and doing the best we can, according to what we are instructed to do,” he added.
“We will now carry out reconnaissance on land, together with the Joint Operational Force that is in Madeira”, concluded Luís Martins.
The fire continues to burn for the fifth consecutive day and currently has two active fronts in the municipalities of Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Brava.
Man attacked with a sharp weapon in Ponta Delgada
A 35-year-old man was attacked yesterday with a sharp weapon in Ponta Delgada, and was taken to the CUF Hospital, where the Emergency Department currently operates.
Three arrested for attempted murder in Ribeira Grande
The PSP arrested, this Friday morning, three individuals, suspected of attempting to commit murder, in the parish of Ribeirinha.
The case dates back to the early hours of August 4th, when the men, aged between 30 and 50, broke down the door of the victim’s house, a man in his 30s. Armed with baseball bats and knives, the trio violently attacked the victim, who was left prostrate and in need of hospital care.
The suspected attackers, who have criminal records for drug trafficking, left the scene without taking any property from the victim’s home, which appears to point to a crime involving a drug deal.
When called, the PSP carried out urgent investigations, having arrested the three suspects this morning, in compliance with a warrant issued by the Public Prosecutor of Ribeira Grande.