Portugal Safety and Security Report Wednesday 22^nd October 2025

Good afternoon. We start this weekly report with the excellent work being undertaken both by the PSP and GNR. The first is the arrest of seven people during a mega-operation that culminated in the seizure of 5.8 tons of hashish. This is the largest amount of drugs ever seized by the PSP, with an estimated value of over several million euros, this police force announced in the final balance sheet.

Also seized were 580,000 euros in cash, 10 vehicles, 21 cell phones, two satellite phones, two automatic weapons, five pistols, a shotgun, a revolver, three electric weapons, around 500 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, two speedboats, six boats, 21 high-powered engines, six luxury watches, around 15,000 litres of gasoline, video surveillance systems (CCTV), solar panels and communication inhibitors, the PSP announced this Tuesday.

The investigation, which lasted eight months , revealed that the network used drug storage facilities located in strategic areas to facilitate transport by sea, “also possessing weapons, communication equipment and logistical support, which demonstrate a high degree of sophistication and danger”, said the PSP. We congratulate the PSP for their professionalism, and coordination in undertaking such a thorough investigation and well planned and successful operation. Clearly it was a dangerous operation given the type of weapons seized. Well done!

The second, this time by the GNR involves the arrest of two suspects for more than one hundred thefts of non-precious metals from electric vehicle charging stations in the districts of Santarém, Setúbal, Leiria, Lisbon, and Évora. Two of the establishments are located in the Óbidos area.

The investigation had been ongoing for about a month and after the suspects were identified, the Santarém Territorial Command of the GNR executed two arrest warrants and carried out three searches (two at homes and one at a waste management operator).The operation, carried out with the support of the GNR Territorial Commands of Setúbal, Leiria, Lisbon and Évora and the PSP, allowed the seizure of electric charging cables, electric cable dismantling machinery, material from dismantling, cutting shears and protective material, documents related to transactions of non-precious metals and computer equipment and a motor vehicle.

The following case in Alcobaça involves the arrest of two people for fraud, document forgery, possession of prohibited weapons, and misuse of name, emblem, or uniform. The GNR Leiria Territorial Command, through the Criminal Investigation Unit (NIC) in Caldas da Rainha,on, October 20, arrested a man and a woman, aged 37 and 41, in the town of Benedita, in the municipality of Alcobaça.

As part of a criminal investigation that has been ongoing for approximately four months. The GNR officers executed three search warrants: one at a residence and two at a vehicle. Following the operation, two security searches were also conducted on the suspects, resulting in arrests and the seizure of an extensive range of items belonging to the GNR and PSP. The reason why the two arrested should have such a large range of items, has not been disclosed, although the word “misuse” indicates that the suspects were, using, or planning to use, the items, in order to approach members of the public pretending to be police officers

Despite this there are reports in the media that there is public concern that the use of violence in crime is increasing certainly in Lisbon, although the Minister of Internal Administration commented when asked, that “perception does not always reflect reality”. She acknowledged however that, “there is indeed some increase in violent crime, but not as much as the media reports,” argues the Minister of Internal Affairs, Maria Lúcia Amaral. Last week, police recorded five cases of people being shot. In particular, a man was admitted to Amadora-Sintra Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning with gunshot wounds to the knee, after another young man was also left outside the same hospital last Sunday with abdominal injuries.

However, this perception of insecurity was certainly not improved, with the attack yesterday by a person using a sharp weapon at the facilities of the Picapau Association, a drug addiction treatment centre located in Almoster, (not in Lisbon) but in the municipality of Santarém. Two of the victims, who were in serious condition, were transported to Santarém Hospital, while the others were assessed on site by emergency teams. More details are not known at present.

Our team wishes you all the best for the week ahead

News

The European Anti-Torture Committee calls on Portuguese authorities to “completely eradicate” physical abuse by police, adding that complaints continue despite progress made in recent years.

In the report released this Tuesday (October 21) on a visit to Portugal in 2024, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) states that it observed “a decrease” in allegations of ill-treatment by law enforcement officials compared to previous visits to the country”, and that measures were also taken by the Portuguese authorities to address this issue.

However, it highlights that “concerns continue to exist,” having received several allegations of physical mistreatment by Portuguese police, including “excessive use of force during detention.”

“The alleged mistreatment consisted primarily of punches, kicks to the body and/or head and, occasionally, the use of batons,” the document states.

The complaints also included being thrown against a wall, pressure on the head with a foot or on the neck with a knee or baton, “despite the detainees having already been controlled,” the rapporteurs write, also reporting reports of verbal threats and acts of humiliation.

The document makes reference to the need to ensure medical care and better reporting of injuries.

“The Portuguese authorities must remain vigilant and continue their efforts, in line with a zero-tolerance policy, to completely eradicate police mistreatment. They must, in particular, improve reporting of such cases, both internally and to the competent investigative bodies, and provide adequate training to law enforcement officials,” recommend the experts from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman Treatment.

The Committee expressed “deep concern about persistent failures in the response of the Portuguese criminal justice system,” which it said poses a risk to trust in the Portuguese authorities.

“Regarding access to a lawyer, this right does not appear to be guaranteed to people in police custody in all cases, from the beginning of the deprivation of liberty,” the report’s authors noted.

“The CPT continued to note omissions on the part of prison establishments, as well as the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) and the General Inspectorate of Justice Services, in communicating possible cases of mistreatment by law enforcement officials to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as well as cases in which allegations or information indicating mistreatment were not responded to, or were responded to insufficiently quickly, by this service,” the document adds.

The committee also highlighted the need to improve communication and information sharing between criminal and disciplinary investigation bodies, especially in cases where disciplinary and criminal proceedings run in parallel.

The authors of the documents also request that agents be identified during operations and dispute the fact that some agents cover their faces.

The Committee for the Prevention of Torture also recommends that authorities implement the use of body cameras , a measure that, the report’s authors emphasize, offers additional protection against the “risk of excessive use and other forms of treatment, also guaranteeing protection [for officers] against any allegations of ill-treatment.”