Year: 2015

Since the beginning of the year the Portuguese National Drug Authority (Infarmed) has detected 29 fraud with counterfeit drugs being sold over the internet and that may pose risk to the lives of users.

According to the agency, there are in Portugal 73 registered legal sites of prescription drugs, associated with 71 pharmacies and two drug sales points which are not subject to medical prescription.

Infarmed cannot quantify the damage caused by counterfeit drugs to the Portuguese State, but in action coordinated by Interpol in June 2015 (Operation Pangea VIII), more than 18 000 illegal drug units were detected being imported into Portugal.

In total the international operation, involving 115 countries, seized fake drugs worth approximately 72 million euros. For 2016 it is expected that medical packaging will have a QR code, an innovative barcode.

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It is recommended that any prescription drugs should be purchased from a registered pharmacy and care should be taken purchasing medicines on line, to ensure that the seller is reputable.

A boy aged 9 years old is in critical condition after being shot in the head by another boy aged 11 years, whilst playing “cops and robbers” with guns at Merelim, S. Palo, Braga on 9^th October.

A few hours after the accident, the owner of the weapons, the victim’s uncle, was arrested by the Judicial Police of Braga. The gun is not legal and was reportedly not properly stored or secured.

After being admitted to Braga Hospital, at 17.30, the boy was transferred, by 19h40, for the service of Neurosurgery Pediatric Hospital of St. John in Porto. It has the bullet lodged in his head.

The uncle of the child will be heard this morning in the Judicial Court of Braga in the first judicial interrogation. He is indicted for possession of prohibited weapon crime. The INEM doctors gave support to children and family.

After the assessment by the Neurosurgery Hospital of Braga, it was concluded that the most correct was not making any surgical intervention and prior to transfer to St. John’s Hospital, “said yesterday Soraia Oliveira, head of the Emergency team of the hospital of Braga. The clinic said, “The boy is in very critical condition with the projectile lodged in the child’s head.

The boy who fired the shot is reportedly in a state of shock over the incident.

On 8^th October the Judicial Police, through the National Unit for Combating Drug Trafficking, in cooperation with the Tax Authority and Customs, arrested four foreign nationals, two men and two women, strongly suspected being part of a network importing cocaine into the Iberian Peninsula, and further distribution through illicit circuits, considerable quantities of the drug shipped from South America by air.

The arrest of the two women took place at the Lisbon International Airport where a total of 16 kilograms of cocaine was discovered in the linings of two suitcases transported from Santa Fe de Bogota, Colombia.

Based on this arrest by the Judicial Police, it was possible to identify and arrest the planned recipients of narcotic product, who lived in Madrid, but who had expressly travelled to Lisbon to collect the cocaine that had been seized. The detainees, aged between 28 and 54 years old, all of them unemployed, were present at the first judicial interrogation

Delta phase of fighting forest fires, with moderate risk period began on 1^st October and runs until 31st October. This succeeds the critical period of fires – Charlie phase, which ended on September 30.

During the Delta phase the following resources are mobilized 1,268 teams / groups / brigades of the different forces involved, comprising 5,517 personnel and 1,286 vehicles. With regards to air support there are a total of 22 aircraft available, including 3 light helicopters, 3 heavy helicopters, 8 medium helicopters, medium fixed wing aircraft, 6 amphibians and two heavy aircraft.

On 3rd October the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) conducted an operation, in coordination with the French authorities, under which they arrested six individuals, one of whom is in Portugal in connection with the trafficking of illegal immigrants.

A person aged 33 years was arrested by the SEF in Lisbon following a search his home and vehicle, under court orders.

The criminal investigation has been over a period of nearly two years, under the direction of DIAP Lisbon, in coordination with the French authorities aimed at a group of people who are dedicated to the transport of illegal immigrants from various countries of the European Union for Portugal, using false documents or fraudulently obtained documents.

During the investigation, called “Operation Bouquet ‘the network’s movements were closely watched, collecting abundant evidence of the operation of the group that was receiving considerable income collected from the payment of’ services’ provided to illegal immigrants. The trips were made by land, in light cars and minivans, with the various destinations in Europe.

The operation was initiated, with the monitoring of European agencies Europol and Eurojust, initially in France with the arrest of five individuals.

The operation is ongoing

So far this year the GNR and PSP have caught an average of almost 13 000 drunk drivers at the wheel with an alcohol rate of 1.20 g/l which is a criminal offence. This averages 47 per day.

This is an increase of 1900 cases compared to last year. In addition the PSP and GNR caught 181 345 drivers with alcohol rates between 0.20 and 1.19 g / l. In total, each day some 709 people are caught drunk driving.

According to data from police reported in Correio da Manha, between January 1 and 1^st October the GNR stopped 8720 drivers and the PSP 4274, who had crime alcohol limit equal to or greater than 1.20 g / l.

The highest number of drink driving cases have taken place in Braga 2791 with 971 arrests; Algarve 2620 with 936 arrests and Averio 268 with 1281 arrests.

“These figures are of concern and this why we are strengthening prevention operations. The drink driving together with speeding and the non – wearing of seat belts are the major causes of fatal accidents”, said the GNR source. The GNR is also concerned of the large proportion of drivers who had been caught over the criminal alcohol rate. In the three areas above some 39% of drivers caught were 1.20 g/l or over. It’s a very high proportion and it deserves reflection and probably increasing the penalties,” he argues.

The Vilamoura burglary case raises an important question on how each of us would deal with an intruder in our home. The issue of “having a go” if you found a burglar in your home currently being debated in the media and social media, is an impossible one for a person to reasonably answer, simply because we do not know how we would react under stress and every situation is different. Whereas reading this now we have the luxury of time in thinking things through, if under imminent attack we may not have time to make entirely rational decisions.

Fortunately this a very rare case and with the burglary levels at their lowest for some years the chances of this taking place are slim. In Vilamoura the burglar was the one that paid the ultimate price, but it could have been the other way around, with the occupants being seriously injured, leading to death.

This is why dealing with an intruder in your home is so important, because how we respond in a very stressful and potentially dangerous situation, can determine the outcome.

Two years ago Safe Communities Algarve researched this matter and after consultation with local police, produced a document entitled “Guideline in discovering and dealing with intruders in your home”. It covers actions to take in different scenarios, for instance a) You arrive home and think there is a burglar inside your house, b) You are at home and suspect there is a prowler in your grounds, c) You wake up at night and suspect there is an intruder in your home or, d) You come face to face with an intruder in your home.

The guide also covers the issue of the use of “reasonable” force which is defined in Articles 32 and 33 of the Portuguese Penal Code.

Article 32 Legitimate defence states “An act constitutes legitimate defence when committed as the necessary means to repel a present and unlawful aggression on legally protected interests of the agent or of a third party”. Article 33 Excess of Legitimate Defence states “1- If there is excess of the means employed in legitimate defence, the act is unlawful but punishment may be especially mitigated. 2- The agent is not punished if the excess results from non-censurable disturbance, fear or shock.”

There are many factors to consider when assessing whether the use of force is reasonable or excessive, including the level of imminent danger posed.

The full guide can be downloaded from www.safecommunitiesalgarve.com/crime-prevention-advice/personal-safety/

I emphasize that this is a general guide which is aimed at protecting you and your loved ones. Specific incidents may vary, but being aware of the general principles in handling instances such as this, could reduce the chances of the situation escalating. Forewarned is forearmed.

Remember – “You can replace your possessions but not your life!

From 1^st June to 15^th September the GNR arrested more than 10747 persons for various offences, an average of over 100 persons per day.

Included in this figure are 3645 for drink driving which is an increase of 248 compared to the same period last year. A total of 1329 were arrested for driving without a licence up 73.

A total of 117 died in road accidents a decrease of 10 compared to last year, although serious injuries were up by 59 to 576. A total of 7586 were slightly injured up by 231.

During the period 786 weapons were confiscated including 351 firearms. A total of 4548 vehicles were seized as well as 364, 834 Euros in cash.

From 1^st June to 15^th September the GNR carried out its Operation “Safe Summer”, though intensified patrols, support and supervision throughout 90% of the country, which is their area of responsibility. The emphasis was aimed at combatting in particular violent crime and those crimes compromising safety.

During this period the GNR registered:

• 3645 people for driving under the influence alcohol (equal to / greater than 1.20 g / l);
• 1329 people for lack of legal authorization to drive;
• 499 for drug trafficking;
• 175 for theft;
• 173 for possession of prohibited weapons;
• 30 for causing bodily harm.

Seizures included:

• 786 guns (351 of which were genuine);
• 11 998 rounds of ammunition of various calibre;
• 4548 vehicles;
• 364 834 euros in cash.

With regard to road side checks during the period of operation, and compared to the same period of 2014, the following is highlighted:

• A reduction in fatalities – less 10.
• An increase in the number of road crimes, with more drivers detected driving with a blood alcohol equal / greater than 1.20 g / l and without legal authorization to drive.
• An increase in offenses, particularly the failure to use restraint systems and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The GNR has monitored over the years, the trends concerning road casualties, and identified the three main causes responsible for serious accidents (deaths and serious injuries), namely:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol (1 in 3 drivers killed in accidents of road driving with an illegal blood alcohol rate),
• Speeding and
• Failure to use restraint systems.

As a result of this knowledge, the GNR has directed its prevention and enforcement actions to focus on these matters thus likely account in the increase in registered offences.

Under the general policing, security was guaranteed at several musical shows (festivals and raves). During action taken at these events more than 10,000 drug doses were seized. Festivals held in the districts of Santarém and Portalegre were events where more drugs were detected.

The PSP added that of the 4,000 plus residences that had requested police surveillance during the period their owners were absent on holiday, there was not a single break-in.

The PSP also reported that its “I’m Here” Programme, which involves tagging children under the age of nine so that parents may locate them, should they stray on the beach for example, was applied to over 50,000 children with the project’s success resulting in its continuity.