Since the 21st August a number of thefts of items from campervans have taken place at the Parque da Ria, Aveiro. At least six thefts from campervans owned by tourists have been reported to the PSP.
According to media reports the victims have reported that they believe their movements were being watched before the thefts took place.
The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) intercepted on 24th and 25th August at Lisbon Airport, two persons involved in international drug trafficking.
In the first case, the arrested individual aged 20 years, who had as Madrid destination, came from a flight from Brazil. He admitted upon arrest to carrying drugs in the hold baggage that would be distributed in Spain, indicating not know how much of it, but only that it would involve cocaine. In conjunction with the Tax Authority and Customs (ATA) he confirmed the existence of alleged narcotic product, it is estimated that the weight thereof is about 18 Kg, including the weight of the bag itself.
On 25th August SEF intercepted another foreign national, aged 26, from Brazil en-route to Madrid. The passenger admitted he carried close to the body a few kilograms of narcotic substances.
Both individuals were handed over to the competent authorities for further proceedings
The Lisbon Metropolitan Command of the Public Security Police, in its area of responsibility, continuing the goals of preventing and deterring crime and offenses in general, during the period from 07:00 on the 19th and 07:00 on 26 August, performed 221 operations and police proceeded to arrest 187 people for various crimes:
Operational activity, it was possible to apprehend the following material:
The GNR Braga Criminal Investigation Unit arrested on 23rd August, in Povoa de Varzim, five individuals for the crime of theft and recovered 38 car radiators, whose estimated value amounts to 6,000 euros.
The action was developed in the context of an investigation by robbery, and individuals were intercepted while transporting the said stolen items in two cars.
The arrested, aged 25 and 38, indicted by the practice of two other similar thefts.
Under the monitoring, surveillance, supervision, inspection and execution of warrants and administrative or judicial decisions relating to pollution incidents, the National Republican Guard (GNR), through the Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA), have recorded so far this year the following:
| complaints | contraventions | crimes | |
| Pollution of water area | 249 | 394 | 8 |
| Atmospheric pollution | 100 | 171 | 1 |
| soil pollution | 29 | 76 | two |
SEPNA, in collaboration with the administrative bodies that oversee the various environmental components subject to pollution (air, water and soil), ensure compliance with laws and regulations relating to illicit checked the environment, water resources and land, investigated and prosecuted the following:
For the years 2014 and 2015, the GNR showed the following data:
| 2014 | 2015 | |||||
| complaints | contraventions | crimes | complaints | contraventions | crimes | |
| Pollution of water area | 270 | 668 | 7 | 344 | 722 | 15 |
| Atmospheric pollution | 210 | 346 | 0 | 222 | 385 | 0 |
| soil pollution | 23 | 88 | 1 | 27 | 104 | two |
The GNR is available 24 hours / day, and throughout the country coverage (mainland and autonomous regions), the “SOS Environment and Territory” line through the blue number 808 200 520 or via emailsepna@gnr.pt , where citizens have the opportunity to report situations that might violate the environmental legislation and / or animal.
The National Guard, in addition to their daily operational activities, carried out a series of operations throughout the country in the last week, 19-25 August that aimed to prevent and combat violent crime, road inspection among others, registering the following operational data:
A total of 477 were arrested, highlighting: 166 for driving under the influence of alcohol; 74 for driving without legal authorization; 59 for drug trafficking; 42 for illegal possession of weapon and 15 for theft.
The following items were seized
Other items seized
The Territorial Detachment of the GNR promotes Mafra on 11 September “GNR TRAIL – Families Against Violence”.
This initiative aims to promote sports and appeal to social issues such as citizenship and solidarity. The ultimate goal is to collect food necessary to help families in need, victims of violence and social exclusion.
To participate , just sign up on the Facebook page GNR Trail, (available at: www.facebook.com/GNRTrail ).
Registration is FREE, through the delivery of food on race day.
On 18th June the Military Unit Coastal Control (UCC), which are involved in the mission of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX) in Greece (Poseidon Sea 2016), has rescued, near the island of Chios – Greece, 58 people, including 11 women and eight children, who were being carried in two semi-rigid boats.
The rescue occurred during a maritime patrol that was being carried out by the UCC vessel when the military observed the two ships crossing the Aegean Sea between Turkey and the island of Chios in Greece, in order to reach European territory.
After the interception, the military towed the vessels, and later handed over the migrants to a Greek vessel which transported them to the port of Chios.
The people rescued had no injuries and were handed over to local security authorities.
From 1st April 2016 the GNR have deployed during FRONTEX mission in the Greek islands of Chios and Kos, 32 personnel. The main objective of this operation is to prevent, detect and stop illegal activities related to illegal immigration, human trafficking and drug trafficking and helping to safeguard human lives at sea.
Since the beginning of the operation, the GNR has rescued 577 migrants.
Two young men, in their 20s, were arrested by agents from PSP Cascais for mobile phone thefts in terraces.
The suspects have committed, with “cunning”, at least three thefts in terraces of Cascais, but were eventually located, identified and arrested by police.
Agents of the Police Division of Cascais have succeeded in rescuing three of stolen mobile phones in record time.
The hypothesis of thieves having committed other thefts, by the same method, through distraction.
The suspects will appear before a judge of the Judicial Court of Cascais for application of the respective enforcement measures.
The PSP has advised this summer season, for domestic and foreign tourists to beware their personal property, especially in places of great movement of people.
We have put together a number of appeals being made from various organisations and individuals to help people affected by the fires in Madeira
Funchal Solidarity Donation Fund opened by Camara Municipal do Funchal
In the face of the dramatic situation caused by the fires of August 2016 in the municipality of Funchal a fund has been formed and account created in solidarity to receive donations that will be applied by the municipality of Funchal in aid to the people affected.
So, all those who have expressed their willingness to support the Funchal people at this time of difficulty, you can send your donation through to the account opened for this purpose in the Santander bank. Details as follows:
Banking Institution: Banco Santander
Title of the account: Funchal Solidarity – Fire August-2016
No account: 0003 42777599020
Iban: Pt50 0018 0003 4277 7599 0201 0
Bic / Swift: Totaptpl
Request for Household items
We have received a communication from a Janice Pemberton
“We are now to resettle families who, not having anything, they need all that an empty house needs: dishes, glasses, cutlery, cooking utensils, small appliances, furniture… if they can donate some of these goods. They should deliver them in the ” Housing development of Santo Amaro, street dr. Gaston of God (Fig. 16, basement (Funchal)”. the person responsible for the receipt will be Mr. Puis. Contact Janice here for details.
Rebuilding the Orchid Gardens
A Richard Turner has set up a Crowd Funding page to help rebuild the Jardim Orchidea gardens. They are aiming to raise £50,000 to help rebuild the 110 year old Orchid Farm destroyed by fire on Madeira Island.
Animal Welfare
David and Gloria Pennman who have lived on the Island in Calheta for many years, enlisted the help of Gloria’s daughter Gina Machin, who is on holiday in Madeira, to also put together a Crowd Funding page to help Graca and her family rebuild their lives and continue the excellent job of looking after all the animals. If you can help with a donation, or even share the page on social media, which will be a great help.
General donations to those affected
A Richard Griffin has set up a GO FUND ME page to raise money for those affected by the fires, has passed the €8500 mark, about 11,000 euros. He has also set up a bank account for further donations: He says the website he was using would have taken a very small cut of the money as an administration fee whereas if any further donations are paid into a bank account the money will all go directly to those who need it.
Mr Griffin says he felt moved to help after hearing how friend’s relatives in Madeira have been evacuated from their homes and seen their properties burning. He says any money donated will be used to pay for food and water, clothes and other essential items for those who have been temporarily evacuated from their homes and those who have lost everything.
The bank account has been set up through Barclays in Guernsey:
Account name: Mr R Griffin
Sort Code: 20 35 32
Account Number: 10351903
When making a donation please use the reference ‘Help Madeira’. You can hear Richard speak about this here.