Year: 2018

An abandoned suitcase near the Bank of Portugal and the statue of João Gonçalves Zarco in Funchal, on 24th November,  led to the evacuation of Golden Gate coffee bar and the closure of the surrounding streets.

According to the “Diario de Notícias da Madeira”, it was a false alarm.

The suspected case was examined by the Public Security Police (PSP) brigade, which did not make any statements on the matter.

The incident was responded to by several elements of the police and the bomb disposal unit, as well as elements of the firefighters Sapadores of Funchal.

According to the meteorological information provided by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) on 16th November, in the next 48 hours, weather conditions are expected to increase from Saturday afternoon (November 17) until the end of Sunday afternoon (November 18), highlighting:

The IPMA have issued an orange level high seas warning for all 10 coastal districts of the mainland from 2200 hrs on 17^th to 1200 hrs on 18^th November.

Meanwhile 5 districts Beja, Faro, Leiria, Lisbon and Setubal will be at yellow warning for increased winds, gusting up to 70 kph from 1800 hrs on 17^th to 0900 hrs on 18^th November and four districts Beja, Evora, Faro and Setubal for heavy rain showers from 2200 hrs on 17^th to 0900 hrs on 18^thNovember.

Mainland Portugal is under the influence of a “poor quality” air mass coming from North Africa, with greater expression between the regions of Algarve and Lisbon, warned the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).

The APA predicts for Saturday 17^th November the continuation of these conditions, will spread to the entire mainland, “forecasting poor air quality that, in case of precipitation, this could give rise to the so-called ‘mud rains’.”

This mass of air has effects on human health, according to the APA, especially in a more vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly, who must redouble their care during the occurrence of these situations, following the recommendations of the Directorate-General for Health.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere predicts, for Saturday, “periods of rain or showers in the Centre and South, especially on the coast and in the afternoon.

EXPECTABLE EFFECTS

In view of the situation described above, the following effects may occur:

• slippery road surface and possible formation of surface water;
• Possibility of rapid flooding in urban areas, due to the accumulation of rainwater or insufficient drainage systems;
• Possibility of flooding by transhipment of water lines in historically more vulnerable areas;
• Floods of underground urban structures with drainage deficiencies;
• Drainage problems in urban systems, especially those occurring during periods of high tide, and may cause flooding in historically more vulnerable areas;
• Possible accidents in historically flooded areas;
• Geomorphological phenomena caused by unstable slopes associated with soil saturation, by the loss of their consistency
• Obstruction of roadways by falling trees, landslides or landslides, stones or other structures;

 

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

The ANPC reminds peoples that the possible impact of these effects can be minimized, especially through the adoption of appropriate behaviour, and therefore, and in particular in the most vulnerable areas, it is recommended to observe and disseminate the main self-protection measures for these situations, namely:

• Ensure clearing of rainwater drainage systems and removal of aggregates and other objects that may be dragged or obstruct the free flow of water;
• Do not cross flooded areas, so as to prevent the entrainment of persons or vehicles to holes in the pavement or open sewage boxes;
• Adopt a defensive driving, reducing the speed and taking special care with the possible formation of surface water on the roads;
• Remove agricultural, industrial, vehicle and other property from confined areas, normally flooded;
• placing animals in safe places, removing herds from areas likely to be flooded;
• Be alert to meteorological information and Civil Protection and Security Forces indications, developing the necessary actions for your protection, family and property.

 

To improve the communication process with the Authorities and emergency medical services, Safe Communities Portugal has developed an emergency identification card for tourists and foreign residents in Portugal, but that can be used by any national citizen.

The Emergency Card does not replace any official identification documents, but is intended to serve as an additional source of information that contains specific data such as medication, allergies, current illnesses as well as information about the Authorities of the citizens’ countries of origin, whom it may be necessary to establish direct contact.

In collaboration with the National Republican Guard (GNR), the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), Safe Communities Portugal has responded to the needs of the foreign community in Portugal, making available in a single document personal and health data that may be useful to medical teams and Authorities in an emergency situation, such as a road accident or major catastrophes.

The document in English and Portuguese is available for download on the websites of Safe Communities Portugal at the SCP link  INEM and Security Forces, and will be promoted to foreign communities in Portugal through their respective embassies and through the Tourism Boards.

Interested citizens can download the card in pdf format from the pages of these Institutions. Fill in the data they deem appropriate, cut and laminate the document so that it can always be in their possession. It can be updated any time instantly, and there are no costs or data privacy issues involved.

David Thomas President Safe Communities Portugal stated that “this idea arose from feed back received at our seminars in Caldas da Rainha and from INEM front line staff during an ANPC exercise SCP participated in at Castelo Branco earlier this year. Following this we approached INEM and a focus group meeting was held between SCP and operational staff from the INEM, GNR and PSP in Lisbon and work started to create this card. The result reflects the operational needs of those emergency teams attending the scenes of accidents etc.” He added “I encourage everyone to use this card and carry it with them at all times”. It could be a life saver!”

I also encourage everyone to help promote this through social media and their own websites.

PSP Metropolitan Lisbon District is investigating a video posted on social networks, which sees dozens of young people involved in clashes near bars and discos located in the Docas nightlife area, in Lisbon.

So far, the police have not received any complaints and there is also no hospital assistance to any of the injured, resulting from the assaults.

 

 

The Metropolitan Command of the PSP of Lisbon, through the Police Division of Loures, on October 26, arrested four men and one woman, aged between 24 and 37 years, for the crime of Trafficking in Narcotics.

Following a 10-month investigation at the Criminal Investigation Station of the Police Division of Loures, PSP unleashed a police operation to stop the criminal activities of a group that, being responsible for the smuggling of narcoticst into Portugal by land, was engaged in drug trafficking in the counties of Odivelas, Lisbon and Sintra.

 

Throughout the investigation, it was found that this criminal group operated with a high level of organization, even with a well defined hierarchy, and its leader was responsible for the transportation and introduction into the national territory of the narcotic product.

The remaining members of the group were responsible for their distribution and direct sales to the consumer.

In January of this year, and in pursuit of several investigative lines, the Criminal Investigation Station of the Police Division of Loures had already arrested a member of this group, who was responsible for trafficking the narcotics into the Municipality of Odivelas.

At the time, the detainee was in possession of approximately 15,200 individual doses of Hashish, and the coercive measure of pre-trial detention was applied after the judicial interrogation at the Judicial Court of Loures.

As a result of these 5 arrests, four home searches and four non-domiciliary searches were carried out in the Lisbon and Sintra Counties, and it was possible to apprehend:

– 33,197 doses of Hashish;

– 3 vehicles;

– € 16 200 (sixteen thousand and two hundred euros);

– Other articles used in the preparation of the narcotic product.

The 5 detainees, with a criminal record of the same type of crime, were present for judicial interrogation at the Torres Vedras Court, and the most severe pre-trial detention measure was applied to 4 detainees and the daily attendance at the Police Station of residence to 1 detained.

One of the detainees already had a warrant of detention for 3 years and 6 months in prison for the same type of crime, which was complied with.

 

The Judicial Police, through the Center’s Board of Directors, with the direct intervention of the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action of Coimbra, in a joint action with the Spanish Civil Guard, have dismantled a criminal association whose purpose was to carry out crimes of trafficking in persons, in the field of labour exploitation, which have occurred in recent years

In the course of the operation, called “LUSAR”, which took place on 16 October, several domiciliary and non-residential searches were carried out in Portugal, in the areas of Sabugal, Belmonte, Covilhã and Santa Comba Dão, and in Spain, zone of Segovia, during which, through European and national arrest warrants issued by the DIAP of Coimbra, five individuals of Portuguese nationality were detained, one in Portugal and four in Spain,

The criminal organization worked with the victims in the national territory, most of them in the central zone, attracting them to attractive agricultural works in Spanish territory. However, since most of the victims were considered to be ” particularly vulnerable”, because of their social and psychological condition (people without family references, without work and with addictive behaviors), they were transported to workplaces in Spain where they did not have adequate rest, received no remuneration, and were still subject to inhuman conditions and food, remaining there at the mercy of that criminal organization, which received high revenues for the work of the victims.

In this operation and consequent materialization of search warrants and detention, in addition to investigators of the Board of the Center and the Department of Criminal Investigation of the Guard, the Judiciary Police moved a team to Spain, where he followed the actions developed there, reciprocally, the Spanish Civil Guard moved a team to Portugal to follow the actions carried out in the national territory.

In the procedures for collecting evidence, two shotguns, ammunition, various objects and documents related to the crimes practiced were found and seized.

Upon the detention in Portugal, after the first judicial interrogation of defendant held , the measure of compulsion to stay in the dwelling with electronic surveillance was applied , in addition to the term of identity and residence .

For the four detainees in Spanish territory, after being present in court, before the Spanish Judge, they await extradition to Portugal, where they will be present to the judicial authorities of the County of Coimbra, with a view to the application of coercive measures.

 

The Judicial Police, through the Board of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, concluded and sent to the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action of Oeiras, an investigation involving twelve defendants, six women and six men, three of whom were arrested because they were mentors and the main perpetrators of a criminal scheme which, at least since 2006, has defrauded around 13 insurance companies totalling more than two million euros.

The defendants contracted insurance policies, essentially life insurance and personal accident insurance, using, in some cases, false identities.

To give an appearance of normality, they initially paid the premiums contracted, subsequently participating in non-existent claims, resulting in supposed degrees of high disability or death of the policyholders, situations that justified with the delivery of false documentation, including clinic, receiving the damages which they declared, as a rule, of very high amounts.

In one case, the incapacities invoked were, after receiving compensation from insurance companies, used to obtain invalidity and tax benefits.

The main parties involved also used the criminal scheme to liquidate housing loans in advance, with associated life insurance, which they and other defendants had.

They falsely invoked their deaths in claims , and required insurance companies to repay mortgage loans to lending credit institutions, thereby full ownership, free of burdens and burdens, by extinguishing the mortgages of real estate they inhabited.

In the searches carried out and in the patrimonial and financial investigation carried out with the defendants, it was possible to seize pecuniary amounts amounting to approximately forty-five thousand five hundred euros, as well as to seize five urban buildings with a global patrimonial value of approximately five hundred and sixty thousand euros and two vehicles, of high capacity, valued at approximately fifty-two thousand euros.

Of the three main stakeholders, one is obliged to remain in the home with electronic surveillance and the other two, with the obligation of periodic submission to the authorities.

The Public Prosecutor accused journalists and SIC’s information director for the crime of disobedience for Operation Marquis’s “illicit reproduction of procedural documents” in April.

A note from the District Attorney General of Lisbon (PGDL) states, without specifying who in the SIC, that the defendants, journalists, including the director of information, coordinator of a program, responsible for reporting and publishing, “decided to broadcast on television, a report (…), the content of which consisted, in large part, in the illicit reproduction of procedural parts of the so-called “Operation Marquis” process.

The PGDL reinforces that the disclosure of such procedural documents was made “without the authorization of the magistrates presiding over this case,” which involves former Prime Minister José Sócrates.

The Public Prosecutor understands that the defendants have disclosed the aforementioned pieces despite being “aware that the law prohibits the disclosure / reproduction of the registration of images or sound recordings related to procedures, unless authorized by the competent judicial authority and unopposed.”.

The investigation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Action Department of Lisbon.

 

 

The Judiciary Police announced the arrest of seven people for the alleged scams and forgery of documents in several locations in the north of the country.

In a statement, the PJ said that in the development of “several ongoing investigations” it was possible to collect “strong evidence” that the suspects used different “modus operandi” to commit the crimes.

In this way, he added, they seized tens of thousands of euros , so far have been calculated values ​​over 75 thousand euros.

“In some situations, they would use false proxies to execute deeds of purchase and sale of other properties, appropriating the respective value of the sale, and in other cases, they believed that buyers who land with trees for sale were theirs, with the product of several sales, “said the PJ.

The PJ also explained that the defendants also made themselves known as managing partners of existing companies in the market, usurping their identities and celebrating, as such, lease agreements with financial entities, which ensured full payment to supplier companies, activating the contracts of lease after delivery of the goods.

The detainees, aged between 40 and 58, will be present at the first judicial interrogation.

It is the  largest ever operation in Portugal in the fight against illegal gambling.

Gambling network transacted 80 million euros in one year.

Through online platforms and games of chance – which was dubbed as Shadow Game -The illegal online gambling and gambling operation carried out by the GNR in the last two days ended with the arrest of 20 people, one of whom to reside in Luxembourg.

The searches across the country also allowed seizures of dozens of luxury cars, computers and game machines used in a scheme that extended to Luxembourg, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Brazil and Mozambique. In fact, it was in Luxembourg territory that the computer servers that supported the entire network of illegal gambling and gambling were based.

According to a communiqué issued by the District Attorney of Setúbal, the operation called “Shadowgame” was carried out by members of the Criminal Investigation Nuclei of Santiago do Cacém and Setúbal of the GNR and of the Fiscal Action Unit of Évora of GNR, which had the support of more than a hundred soldiers from other regions and “searched and detained throughout the national territory as well as in Luxembourg.”

The District Attorney’s Office of Setúbal also informs that the “illicit exploitation is carried out by a group of about 100 individuals who, at least since 2015, carry out the criminal activity in Portugal, Luxembourg, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Brazil and Mozambique. ”

The operation was coordinated by Europol and Eurojust and also enabled Internet servers to be taken down in Luxembourg.