The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 27th September 2023

by Mike Evans

Good day to you all. With the end of Summer now on the horizon, for many residents this is the time that they take to enjoy the Algarve and beyond when the crowds are low. Whilst much of the infrastructure is still in place people should remember that some elements of keeping you safe are withdrawn especially on the beaches. Please remember that the lifeguards on many beaches will disappear at the end of this month so be aware for yourself and other beach goers of the dangers that still lurk in the sea. Rip currents are especially difficult to spot and we have been raising this issue over the summer and how to spot them as well as how to escape from one.

With the temperatures set to remain in the mid 20’s for October it is a lovely time to enjoy our fabulous country but please be wary of the dangers that may be lurking!

Now a look at some of the stories that have been hitting the headlines over the past week.

FORMER OLHÃO COUNCILLOR SENTENCED TO 9 YEARS FOR MEGA FRAUD OF ILLEGAL APPROPRIATION OF BUILDINGS

The Judicial Court of Faro was the stage, this Wednesday afternoon, for the reading of the ruling, despite the strike of judicial employees during the investigations, of a mega fraud case.

More than 30 people were accused of fraud and forgery crimes, for having appropriated land and houses that did not belong to them. One of the accused was João Pereira, former councillor of the Olhão Chamber, who was sentenced to nine years in prison.

More than 20 buildings in Olhão, Faro and Albufeira were illegally appropriated in a scheme in which the leader was the former councillor of Olhão.

The former councillor of Bloco de Esquerda (BE) was suspected of organising the necessary documentation and presenting it to the notary at the Olhão Notary Office, accompanying the justifications. In some cases, he was also a witness to the facts that served to justify possession by adverse possession. It was João Pereira who, as a rule, registered with the land registry offices. The notary from the Olhão Notary Office was one of the accused, but was acquitted of all crimes.

The public deeds of justification were carried out at the Olhão Notary’s Office, stating that the buildings in question had been sold or donated verbally in the 1980s. More than 20 buildings in Olhão, Faro and Albufeira were illegally appropriated.

João Pereira is the first activist expelled in the history of BE, for allegedly “failing to tell the truth” about several processes, including an alleged fraudulent bankruptcy of a company and debts to the tax authorities.

Of the 32 defendants, two were sentenced to effective prison sentences, 16 to suspended prison sentences and one to a fine. The rest were acquitted. The trial had started in March and ended this Wednesday.

Sérgio Martins, the president of the Parish Council of Santa Bárbara de Nexe, in Faro, was the first to warn about this situation. Between 2019 and 2020, Sérgio Martins published two videos on Facebook about the issue.

LPG STATION IN THE ALGARVE CLOSED FOR POSING A DANGER 

Authorities have closed a Liquefied Petroleum Gas ( LPG ) filling station in the Algarve, which will be dismantled as it represents a “potential danger” to the local population, announced the National Entity for the Energy Sector ( ENSE ).

In a statement, ENSE said that it had sealed the station, the exact location of which it did not specify, and that it had been “completely removed, thus guaranteeing the safety of residents in the area”.

According to this entity, measures were also taken to dismantle the station, which was not licensed, did not have mandatory civil liability insurance, nor authorization to operate the LPG tank (ESP). GPL Auto also did not have metrological control of the reservoir pressure gauge, among other “serious risks to the safety and health of people and property”, highlights ENSE, which sealed the station during a nationwide inspection action.

In this action, which ended on Friday, September 22nd, ENSE carried out inspections of 28 LPG Auto stations across the country.

During these actions, which involved the collection of evidence for subsequent analysis, special attention was paid to the safety conditions necessary for the operation of these filling stations. “These actions have the main objective of ensuring compliance with current legislation, as well as compliance with safety rules and guaranteeing free market competition”, he concluded.

Three injured in explosion at Vila Galé Lagos restaurant

Three people were injured – two seriously – after a bottle of alcohol exploded during a live cooking show at the restaurant of Vila Galé Lagos Hotel on Monday.

Two German clients – male, aged 83 and 69 – sustained serious injuries while a Portuguese man, 50, suffered light injuries.

The incident occurred at around 6.45pm.

The hotel management said in a statement that it is collaborating with local authorities and closely following the guests’ health condition, ensuring that all appropriate safety measures are implemented to prevent future incidents.”

British expats to lose Barclays Bank accounts

British people living abroad who bank with Barclays are going to have their UK current or savings accounts closed, which could leave customers with no access to their savings and pensions.

According to The Daily Telegraph, it states that the bank began a review of its international offerings in 2021 and is now writing to customers with a six-month warning and that a Barclays spokesman stated that “UK products are designed for customers living in Britain”. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) added that “it was a commercial decision as banks are allowed to set their own rules on customers which they accept.”

The lender cited by The Telegraph, has advised expats to open a global account with Barclays, however, they will need to maintain a balance of £100,000 in order to avoid a monthly charge of £40. According to The Telegraph: “In 2021, Lloyds Banking Group, which owns Halifax and the Bank of Scotland, contacted 13,000 expats who live in Europe to tell them their accounts held in Britain would close as the bank is no longer allowed to offer services.”

Under the latest closures, those with cash ISAs and fixed-rate bonds will be able to keep their accounts unless they live in Estonia, Italy, the Netherlands or Slovakia.

The same rule applies to mortgage and loan holders with the UK wing of the bank. However, existing home loan customers will not be able to remortgage when their term ends.

Crown employees and their spouses can also keep the accounts, and the bank will allow the account to remain open if the overseas address is for someone who manages the money, such as an accountant or lawyer.”

A FCA spokesman said “Banks may set their own requirements on country of residence for account holders and must comply with local law and regulation when serving customers outside the UK.

“Whether or not banks decide to extend services to customers outside of the UK is a commercial decision for them, but we expect them to treat their customers fairly, comply with equalities legislation, and provide adequate notice to the customer if they decide to close their account.

“Customers who feel they have had their accounts closed unfairly have the right to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.”

A separate article published by The Guardian explained that “Financial services in the UK can currently trade across the European Economic Area (EEA) because member countries are bound by the same regulatory framework.

The arrangement, known as “passporting”, expires at the end of the year and, while the UK has legislated so that EU banks can continue to provide services for customers in Britain, the EU has not done the same.” Customers who bank with firms that own EU-based subsidiaries are having their accounts transferred, but banks that do not have an EU arm would have to apply for a licence to trade in each EEA country. Some banks have too small a customer base in the EU to justify the cost.”

Thinking of taking a Trip to Spain?

Finally,  If you are planning a trip to Spain and intend to drive during your stay, it is essential to know the differences and specificities of the roads and regulations in relation to Portugal. Driving in Spain can be a pleasant experience, as long as you are prepared.

In this piece, using some of the information from Ekonomista, we will cover the main aspects to consider before venturing onto Spanish roads.

Documentation required in Spain:  For European Union citizens, including the Portuguese, driving in Spain is relatively simple in terms of documentation. You must have the following documents with you:

Driving licence: Your valid driving licence is essential. Make sure it is up to date and in compliance with regulations.

Vehicle documents: Make sure you have the vehicle documents, including the Documento Único and the green card (international insurance certificate).

Signal triangle: Have a warning triangle in the vehicle. If you want to become a resident in Spain, you will need two triangles. These are mandatory when the vehicle is immobilised in the lane.

Spare tyre and tools: In Spain, it is mandatory for vehicles to have a spare tire in good condition and the necessary tools for replacement. The only exception is when the vehicle is not factory equipped with a spare tyre, but rather with a repair kit.

Differences in Traffic Regulations: Although there are many similarities between traffic regulations in Spain and Portugal, it is important to be aware of some significant differences:

Daytime running lights:  For motorcycles, the use of permanent daytime running lights is mandatory, even during the day. For other vehicles, this obligation only applies in conditions of reduced visibility.

Blood alcohol limit:  In Spain, the maximum blood alcohol level allowed for newly licensed and professional drivers is 0.3 g/l (0.2 g/l in Portugal), while for other drivers it is 0.5 g/l , the same as in Portugal.

Speed ​​limits: Speed ​​limits vary on motorways (120 km/h), conventional roads (100 km/h), other roads (90 km/h), and urban areas (50 km/h). Please note that as of May 2021, 70% of urban streets have a speed limit of 30 km/h.

In addition to the main differences in regulations, keep the following issues in mind when driving in Spain: Seat belts.The use of seat belts is mandatory for all passengers, inside and outside the locations. Fines can reach €200: Cell phones . Talking on a cell phone while driving is prohibited, except when using a hands-free system.

Fines:   The traffic police can impose fines at the location of the violation. Fines can be challenged within a maximum period of 15 days. Paying now reduces the fine by 30%. If you do not pay and do not indicate a person or company as payment guarantee, the vehicle may be confiscated.

Parking . In large cities, public on-street parking usually has a maximum limit of two hours.

Highways . Many motorways in Spain have tolls , with rates that can vary according to the time of day and the time of year.

Now that you are informed about the differences and regulations when driving in Spain, you can enjoy your trip with greater peace of mind, whether for leisure or work.

Always remember to respect local traffic laws and ensure that your vehicle and documentation are in compliance.

Have a great week.

 

Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 20th September 2023

by Mike Evans

Welcome to another Algarve Report. In the past week Safe Communities Volunteers have been busy with plenty of news to promote on our Facebook pages and we also attended a coffee morning in Sao Bras de Alportel as guests of the Friends of the Museum in Sao Bras. Our founder David Thomas gave a talk to approximately 35 people on what our organisation is all about and how it came to be.

Now that the weather is a bit cooler we are happy to attend events of clubs or societies around the region if you feel our attendance could add value to your regular meetings. Please feel free to reach out to us if this is something your organisation might like to get involved with. We do not charge anything to attend and as we are based fairly central in the Algarve we can travel either East or West.

Now a look at some of the other news from across the Algarve in the past week.

EARTHQUAKE OF 3.0 RICHTER MAGNITUDE REGISTERED 86 KMS OFF SAGRES

An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 on the Richter scale was recorded this Monday afternoon, at 2:13 pm, 86 kilometres southwest of Sagres and 125 kilometres southwest of Portimão, according to the Euro-Seismological Center. Mediterranean .The “epicentre was recorded at a depth of 41.1 km”.

GNR INVESTIGATE ANIMALS POISONED IN ALBUFEIRA AND SILVES

During a GNR investigation concerning animals being poisoned in the countryside of Paderne and Algoz, a police tracking dog even became a victim.

Hundreds of animals have died from alleged poisoning after eating contaminated meat in the municipalities of Albufeira and Silves, which is why the GNR is in the process of investigating.

“There are more than 40 traps spread across these hunting areas. Those who place them do so in the early hours of the morning and use small pieces of poisoned chicken.”

The practice of poisoning animals is not new and residents of Paderne, in Albufeira, have been complaining for more than 20 years. However, recently, the situation has been getting worse. In Algoz, Silves the situation is the same. According to a Paderne resident , “this week at least two dogs have eaten contaminated meat: one survived, the other ended up dying. Dogs, cats, sheep, the list is long.”

It’s not just domestic animals and livestock that are affected. Animals such as foxes, eagles and mongoose also die from these poisonings. According to Portuguese newspapers, the poison used is a pesticide banned in Portugal, responsible for thousands of deaths.

Animal owners, please be vigilant!

What are the symptoms of animal poisoning?

Foaming at the mouth, lethargy, shaking or unusual movements, upset stomach, unusual swelling, pale gums, or behavioural changes.

What to do if you think your dog’s been poisoned.

Stay calm and move your dog away from the source of poison. Contact your vet immediately – inform them when, where and how the poisoning happened. If possible, take the packaging or substance to the vet, but only if you can do this safely.

OLHÃO: POLICE CATCH HOUSE BURGLAR RED-HANDED

The GNR in Olhão have arrested a 23 year old young man fleeing from a robbery of a private house, after holding the resident couple at knife-point.

“Following the report that someone had forced entry into a residence and that a robbery was taking place against a couple, the Olhão GNR promptly went to the scene and discovered that a man was fleeing the house”, says the GNR in a statement.

On investigation, police found €850 in the young man’s possession, resulting from the robbery he had just carried out, plus the knife used.

IPHONE 12 SALES SUSPENDED DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT RADIATION LEVELS

Due to concerns about radiation levels exceeding permitted limits, the French government has taken the decision to suspend sales of Apple ‘s iPhone 12 in the country.

The measure was announced by France’s Digital Economy Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, after the country’s radiation watchdog, ANFR, notified Apple about this issue.

Tests carried out by ANFR revealed that the specific absorption rate (SAR) of the iPhone 12 was slightly above the legal limits established in France, which led to the model’s sales being frozen in the country. However, the French government believes that the solution to this problem could be relatively simple.

This decision not only affects sales in France, but could also have repercussions throughout the European Union, as SAR safety limits are harmonised among member states. ANFR intends to share its findings with regulators in other EU countries, which could result in similar measures in other markets .

In statements made to the French newspaper Le Parisien, Jean-Noel Barrot expressed the hope that Apple can resolve the issue through a software update that reduces the levels of radiation emitted by the iPhone 12. Apple now has two weeks to submit a response and, if it fails to do so, the French government could order the withdrawal of all iPhone 12 devices in circulation in France.

For Apple, this suspension of iPhone 12 sales in France represents a significant challenge, as the French market is one of the largest in Europe. This situation highlights the importance of compliance with security regulations in all markets in which companies operate, and serves as a reminder that mobile technology must meet the rigorous security standards set by regulatory authorities.

MAN ARRESTED IN ARMACAO DE PERA FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

A 46-year-old man was arrested this Monday, September 18th, for drug trafficking in Armação de Pêra , in the municipality of Silves , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR). The arrest was made by the Faro Territorial Command, through the Armação de Pêra Territorial Post, during a patrolling action.

GNR soldiers checked a suspicious vehicle that was parked in a commercial parking lot, whose passengers demonstrated suspicious behaviour and some nervousness when approached. A personal security search was carried out on the suspects and the vehicle, discovering narcotic products in the driver’s possession.

During the action, 530 doses of cocaine, 8400 doses of heroin and a vehicle were seized.

The detainee was named a defendant and will be present this afternoon at the Silves Judicial Court for the application of coercive measures.

FARO FIREFIGHTERS GET 17  NEW RECRUITS

The Faro Firefighters Company hired 17 new professionals to “strengthen” the relief and safety response in the city, revealed this Friday, the 15th, the president of the Faro municipality, Rogério Bacalhau (PSD ) .

The new operatives of the sappers fire company made their commitment of honour and received “the usual parade baptism”, in a symbolic ceremony held on the occasion of the Municipality Day celebrations (7 September), the Municipal Council explained in a statement .

The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Faro and the Regional Commander of Emergency and Civil Protection of the Algarve, Vítor Vaz Pinto, who highlighted the importance of integrating these new professionals to reinforce the response capacity of the city’s Sapadores Firefighters, which now has 56 members on the active staff. After welcoming the professionals who joined the company, Vítor Vaz Pinto thanked the firefighters for their “resilience and professionalism” and highlighted the investment made by the municipality to guarantee the “strengthening of the corporation’s intervention capacity”, the municipality said in the statement. .

Also mentioned in the statement, Rogério Bacalhau said that the new reinforcements guarantee that “the security of people and goods in the city of Faro will now be strengthened”.

The municipality highlighted that the new professionals were trained at the Lisbon Sapadores Firefighters Regiment School and at the National Firefighters School and received instruction consisting of a “theoretical component and a practical component, in a total of more than 1,810 hours of training”.

The training received by the 17 new firefighters covered “the disciplines of urban fires, forest fires, basic techniques, administrative culture, command, manoeuvres, pre-hospital assistance, united order and physical education”, specified the municipality.

“The last few months of training took place in the context of work at the Faro Firefighters Company barracks, where the recruit firefighters were integrated into the operational brigades”, the municipality’s note added.

Until the next time, stay Safe

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 13th September 2023

by Mike Evans

With the region experiencing a welcome dousing of rain in the past week it is an opportune time to raise the issue of water usage and the consumption from the area. The month of August was the fifth hottest in mainland Portugal since 1931, with two heat waves and an increase in the drought situation reaching 97% of the country. The Algarve was one of the territories that showed the decrease in the percentage of water in the soil throughout the territory. In the Algarve the percentage values of water in the soil is below 10%, and in many places “the water content in the soil is at the level of permanent wilting point”.

The Minister of the Environment has welcomed investments to be made in Vilamoura and Quinta do Lago, in the Algarve, which will help to irrigate almost half of the region’s golf courses with reused wastewater by 2026. With the Government looking at the building of a new Dam for the Algarve, on the Foupana River, the minister was clear: “For now, what is a commitment is [carrying out] a study”.

According to figures provided by Duarte Cordeiro “overall water consumption in the Algarve decreased [until August] compared to last year by around 5.0 hectometres, agricultural and urban consumption”.

“I think we are all working and we can work better. We are all aware that we still have a lot of work to do in raising people’s awareness and we can all achieve even more results with this awareness”.

As we move into Autumn and Winter we can expect more rain and hope that the efforts to preserve water is successful.

Now let’s look at what is making the headlines across the region in the past week.

Authorities Seize Another 1.6 tons of Drugs in International Waters

A joint operation by the Navy , National Maritime Authority (AMN) and the Air Force, carried out on the night of Wednesday, the 6th, resulted in the seizure of 46 bales of hashish, around 1.6 tons, six jerrycans of fuel , a high-speed vessel and the arrest of six suspects for drug trafficking, was announced by AMN.

“The Navy, the National Maritime Authority and the Portuguese Air Force carried out, this evening, a joint operation in international waters 50 nautical miles, approximately 93 km southeast of Portugal, which resulted in the seizure of a high-speed vessel, 46 bales of hashish, approximately one thousand and six hundred kilos, six jerrycans of fuel and six crew members, male, of Moroccan and Spanish nationality, aged between 21 and 48 years old, who were taken ashore and subjected to the necessary procedures to its identification and consequent formalities of legal processing” refers to AMN in a statement.

​A Navy ship, two nautical assets, one operated by marines and the other by the Maritime Police, as well as an aircraft from the Portuguese Air Force, participated in the operation.The Navy, the National Maritime Authority and the Portuguese Air Force continually carry out missions to combat drug trafficking in the Algarve, having since the beginning of the year arrested 78 people and seized 32 high-speed vessels carrying around 33 tons of Narcotic products.

Mother and Daughter Injured on Pedestrian Crossing by Runaway Driver

A 38-year-old woman, of Bulgarian nationality, and her two-year-old baby daughter, were run over on Thursday, the 7th, on a pedestrian crossing in Altura, on Estrada Nacional 125, towards Castro Marim – Faro, and were left with light injuries. The  stroller in which the child was travelling was thrown a few metres away. The driver fled, but was later identified by the GNR.

The alert was given at 8:26 pm, when mother and daughter were crossing the pedestrian crossing in Altura, in the municipality of Castro Marim. The two-year-old child, who was in the stroller, was initially considered seriously injured, but later became slightly injured. The two victims were transported to Faro Hospital.

There were 11 operatives at the scene, supported by four vehicles from the Vila Real de Santo António Fire Department, INEM and the GNR , who managed to reach the driver of the vehicle.

Woman Hurt After Diving from a Cliff Rescued by Bombeiros

A 53 year old French woman was rescued by Vila do Bispo bombeiros on Thursday afternoon, after she dived from the cliffs at São João Vaz beach. The woman’s plan was to dive 10m into the sea, then climb back up the rocks after diving.

However, the victim injured her back when diving, making climbing out impossible. She was eventually rescued from the water using ropes and was lifted up the cliff.

ALGARVE: PSP RADAR LOCATIONS IN SEPTEMBER

The Public Security Police (PSP) have released the list of speed control radars in place during the month of September, in the Algarve.

As part of the monthly “Who warns you…” campaign for safer driving, the list below may be subject to occasional changes.

11/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Rua da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa – Tavira

12/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Avenida V2 – Portimão

20/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Avenida V6 – Portimão

22/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Rua Almirante Cândido dos Reis – Tavira

26/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Avenida V6 – Portimão

26/Sep – 09:00/12:00 – Av. Dr. Gordinho Moreira – Faro

And Finally, if you want to try some new foods from Portugal and around the world but don’t want to spend out on a full dinner then you should try  Another edition of Rota do Petisco is back, which runs from September 15th to October 15th, organised by Teia D’ Impulsos, the organisation announced.

Snackers will have 31 days to travel through 11 municipalities (Aljezur , Vila do Bispo, Lagos, Portimão, Monchique, Lagoa, Silves, Albufeira, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel and Tavira) and 176 participating establishments.

The passport (€1.50) guarantees access to all snacks at an attractive price (Menu Petisco €4.00 and Menu Doce €2.50), including vegetarian options. This continues to be supportive, and the pre-selected projects will form part of a social entrepreneurship ‘bootcamp’, carried out by Teia D’Impulsos. The jury will choose as winners those with the greatest social impact.

The Rota do Mundo, restaurants with typical cuisine from other countries, and the Rota dos Chefs, signature dishes with regional products, are also returning.

Rota do Petisco is a cultural and recreational project originating in Portimão (2011) that consists of a gastronomic itinerary, involving several restaurant establishments organised by different geographical areas.

Teia D’ Impulsos is a non-profit association whose main objective is the development of social, cultural, sporting, training and environmental projects based on equal rights and opportunities among all citizens. For details of the establishments partaking go to this website https://www.rotadopetisco.com/

Until the next time…

 

The Algarve Situation Report Wednesday 6th September 2023

by Mike Evans

A very good day to you all in the region. As l write this report we are experiencing a lot of different weather and climatic occurrences. After the past couple of weeks of very hot temperatures, and the start of some well needed rain, we now have an earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale that was recorded this morning(Tuesday) in the Algarve. The earthquake was registered at 1:49 am, with an epicentre located approximately 100 kilometres south-southwest of Faro , according to the IPMA.  Let’s hope we don’t see a plague of locusts as well!

In all seriousness, the many faces of summer across Southern Europe have seen a number of different scenarios which have included some heavy flooding in Spain and France as well as record temperatures in Greece. Wildfires in many countries are causing massive damage. More than 3.400 firefighters were battling 130 fires in our own country. Temperatures were above 40ºC in some regions of the country, and authorities said wildfire risks would remain “very high or at maximum level across the entire state” over the coming days.

We are also seeing massive flooding in some countries. In Slovenia, which has seen unprecedented storms and flooding, the death toll has climbed to six, police said on Monday, as clean-up operations continued with help from neighbouring countries.

Prime Minister Robert Golob has described the torrential rains and severe flooding that hit the Alpine country of two million as its worst natural disaster since independence three decades ago.

The unusual weather pattern is not just in Southern Europe, The storm “Hans” is forecasted to arrive in Norway Monday afternoon or evening. The rain has already begun, resulting in flooding in a commuter parking lot located outside Oslo. As a consequence, several cars in the lot were submerged underwater due to the flooding of the adjacent riverbed. And, after experiencing a remarkably wet July, Denmark continues to endure weather more reminiscent of autumn than summer. The downpour and storm that started on Sunday first affected the eastern island of Bornholm before reaching the capital city, Copenhagen, on Monday.

Global warming is cited by experts for some of these phenomena but in the case of wildfires especially here in Portugal it is usually as a result of carelessness or people starting fires intentionally. At least the rains we are now experiencing will help keep the wildfires down to a minimum.

Now a look at some of the news from around the region in the past week.

GNR Seizes Weapons and Drugs in 3 Day Operation 

The GNR seized 23 weapons, 16 of which were collectibles, and more than 1,800 doses of drugs in operations carried out in the district of Faro , between Thursday and Sunday, the police corporation revealed this Monday.

Over the last week, the operations also led to the arrest of 91 people, 41 of which were related to driving with excess alcohol in their blood, 18 for drug trafficking and 17 for driving without a legal licence, revealed the GNR in a statement.

At issue were operations to “prevent and combat violent crime, road inspection, among others”, which led to the seizure of 1,372 doses of cocaine, 407 of hashish, 66 of heroin and 41 of cannabis, said the same source, As for weapons, two rifles with telescopic sights and one without sights, a machine gun, a sawed-off shotgun, a pistol, a revolver, two air-pressure rifles and eight collector’s pistols, five collector’s revolvers, a collection and ammunition of various calibres, informed the GNR.

Two arrested for drug trafficking in Quarteira

On Sunday, September 3, the GNR arrested two men aged 27 and 36 for drug trafficking, in Quarteira ( Loulé ), said that security force.

As part of a patrolling action, the GNR soldiers ordered a vehicle to stop “which did not comply with the instructions and fled, with two occupants inside”, the GNR said in a statement.

According to the GNR, steps were taken that allowed, moments later, to locate and intercept one of the individuals. During the action, a personal search and a search of the vehicle were carried out, revealing that one of the men “was in possession of a narcotic product”, namely cocaine, which led to his arrest in flagrante delicto. Police investigations continued and, a few hours later, “the second occupant was located, who was also detained”, details the GNR. The action resulted in the seizure of 1,250 doses of cocaine, two cell phones and 90 euros in cash.

The detainees were made defendants and were present at the Loulé Judicial Court for the application of coercive measures. 

PJ investigates origin and destination of 1.1 tons of hashish seized this week

The Judiciary Police (PJ) is investigating the origin and destination of the 1.1 tons of hashish seized on Friday, the 1st, in the south of Portugal and investigating the connection to international drug trafficking networks of the two detained men.

“We do not know the destination of the approximately 1.1 tons of hashish because we are dealing with groups that operate anywhere, carrying out their risk analysis and, depending on the information on the ground, they unload both in Portugal and in Spain,” said the director of PJ de Faro .

The Portuguese authorities, in a joint action between the National Maritime Authority ( AMN ), the Portuguese Navy and the Air Force, seized 1.1 tons of hashish this morning and detained two men during an action to combat drug trafficking, in international waters, south of Portugal. Speaking to journalists at a press conference at Cais Comercial de Faro, the director of the PJ of Faro said that “the way the drugs are packaged indicates that we are dealing with a different ‘modus operandi’ than these groups”. “These bales have different characteristics from the usual ones”, highlighted Fernando Jordão.

The official added that the PJ “will now carry out investigative actions, namely the exchange of information with other countries, to determine the origin and destination” of the narcotic product. According to Fernando Jordão, the increase in high-speed boats off Portuguese waters “works like a platform, where the opportunity to carry out unloading is awaited, which could be in Portugal or Spain.

According to the commander of the Southern Maritime Zone, Mário Figueiredo, in the operation called “Porta closed” three high-speed vessels were seized, one of which contained 41 bales of hashish and another with around 20 jerrycans of fuel. Of the six boat crew, French, Spanish and Moroccan nationalities, aged between 24 and 48, the authorities detained the two who were on the boat with the drugs, and the rest were identified, said the official.

The operation took place around 80 nautical miles, approximately 148 kilometres south of Portugal, in international waters. An Air Force aircraft, two Navy ships and three high-speed boats participated in the action, one of which was operated by marines. According to that commander, “the boats’ crew tried to escape, but ended up being intercepted by the authorities and were not armed nor did they resist arrest”.

In the opinion of Mário Figueiredo, the increase in seizures of high-speed boats, drugs and arrests of those allegedly involved in drug trafficking, “is due to greater vigilance by the Portuguese authorities, which increases the risk of networks opting to unload the drugs in Portugal” 

Tourist boat with more than 10 crew runs aground in Benagil Cave

A tourist boat, with more than a dozen crew members on board, was stranded inside the   Benagil cave , in Lagoa. The incident happened on the afternoon of Saturday, September 2nd, around 3 pm, during one of the usual tours of the cave.

The National Maritime Authority (AMN) received the alert and sent help but when they arrived, the boat had already been freed with the support of other tourist vessels that were in the area. The episode lasted around 20 minutes and, despite the scare, no one was injured.

The captain of the port of Portimão, Eduardo Pousadas Godinho, issued a notice banning the activity of visiting the caves, in the area under the jurisdiction of this captaincy, between Vale da Lapa beach and Fontainhas beach, in order to “guarantee the safety of these visitors and these activities”, The measure, which came into force at eight am this Sunday, will remain in force for 48 hours.

The closure is related to an “expected worsening of weather conditions” , with wind that can reach 20 knots, around 37 kilometres per hour, and waves up to two metres high.

Last Friday, September 1st, a collision between a maritime tourist vessel and a kayak had already been recorded, resulting in a serious injury. A seven-year-old child who had to be hospitalised with multiple injuries.

The Benagil caves are one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Algarve and, due to the disorderly navigation in that area, accidents are frequent. It is for this reason that access to the geological formation in Lagoa, considered “one of the most incredible natural caves on the planet”, will have stricter rules.

The Government intends to create “a multidisciplinary working group with the mission of establishing the human carrying capacity and determining access conditions” to the site, according to the order published in Diário da República this Wednesday, August 30th.

The objective is to “face the need to protect and prevent risk situations for people’s safety, especially considering the high erosion that has occurred in that area, which requires the definition of rules of use for visitors, to reinforce your safety.”

Three people die following van crash in Vilamoura

A crash near Caminho dos Pinheiros Mandos, in Vilamoura, municipality of Loulé , caused the death of three people this Monday, September 4th. The circumstances under which the mishap occurred are yet to be determined.

According to the Faro District Relief Operations Command, the alert was given at around 1 pm and occurred close to an industrial park. A van somehow crashed into a pine tree in the early afternoon yesterday, near the Industrial Zone of Vilamoura, killing all three occupants.

A GNR source revealed that the three victims were all men aged between 34 and 46 years old. The individuals aged 34 and 46 are Portuguese, the 45 year old man is Brazilian. They were the only occupants of the vehicle.

Emergency services tried to resuscitate the men on arrival, but they were declared dead at the scene.

The GNR , through the Criminal Investigation Center for Road Accidents (NICAV), will investigate the circumstances of the deadly crash, which are unknown at the moment.

Firefighters from Loulé and Albufeira, the Portuguese Red Cross, INEM and GNR were on site , totaling 18 operational personnel.

And finally, A RADAR ON EN125 IS ONE THAT FINES THE MOST IN PORTUGAL

The radar located at km 102 of the EN125 in Faro, in the West-East direction is one of the five radars that have recorded the most infractions in Portugal, according to the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR).

The other four are: the A1 radar, at 188.6 km in Coimbra, heading South-North; the A4 radar, 0.1 km away in Matosinhos, east-west; the A29 radar, 40.9 km away in Vila Nova de Gaia, heading South-North and the A23 radar, 18.6 km away in Vila Nova da Barquinha, heading East-West.

The use of speed cameras is one of the most effective ways of monitoring excessive vehicle speeds. For this purpose, there are different types of radars.

Since Friday, there have been 37 more devices nationwide to control speed, two of which are installed in the Algarve. One in Faro on the EN125-10 and another in Albufeira on the A2. There is, however, a radar that was already operational on EN125, in Faro, which was identified as one of the five in which there are the most infractions nationally.

Until the next time Stay Safe and Keep your Speed Down!