Vale de Judeus escape: PJ detains 43-year-old man and seizes Kalashnikov weapons
The Judicial Police detained a 43-year-old man and carried out seven house searches as part of operation "Sapatada", linked to the escape of five inmates in September 2024.
Operation "Sapatada": one detainee and 25 defendants in investigation into Vale de Judeus prison escape
The Judicial Police detained on Tuesday, 16 June, a 43-year-old Portuguese national, suspected of the crimes of rescuing a prisoner and possession of prohibited weapons, as part of the investigation into the escape of inmates from Vale de Judeus prison which occurred in September 2024. According to sicnoticias.pt, the suspect was caught red-handed in possession of a prohibited weapon.
The operation, named "Sapatada" and launched by the Central Banditry Combat Section, included seven house searches and resulted in 25 defendants being constituted.
According to a statement sent to media outlets, the operation aimed at "the identification of those involved, the consolidation of evidence already gathered and the collection of new evidence elements related to the escape and rescue of prisoners from Vale de Judeus Penal Establishment on 7 September 2024" — a situation which involved inmates who were subsequently recaptured between 6 October 2024 and 6 February 2025.
Weapons, vehicles and 32,500 euros seized
During the proceedings, two light vehicles were seized, two automatic firearms of the Kalashnikov type, ammunition of various calibres, electronic equipment capable of interfering with radio communications, GPS signals and transmission systems, two military-grade communications radios, two tactical helmets, a ballistic vest and a press for reloading ammunition. Approximately 32,500 euros in cash was also collected, in addition to documents and other items of evidential relevance.
The operation involved approximately 70 Judicial Police investigators, mostly assigned to the National Counter-Terrorism Unit, with support from the Northern Directorate, the Central Directorate, the Southern Directorate, the Vila Real Criminal Investigation Department and the Weaponry and Security Unit.
The detainee will be presented on Wednesday to the competent judicial authority for first judicial interrogation and possible application of coercive measures.
Wife of Fábio Loureiro among search targets
One of the targets of the operation is the wife of Fábio Loureiro, the Portuguese inmate who was at large until being captured in Morocco. The fugitive's partner is implicated as a co-author of the crime of rescuing a prisoner, for allegedly having aided the escape.
On 7 September 2024, there escaped from Vale de Judeus, in Alcoentre (Azambuja), the Argentine Rodolfo Lohrmann, the British Mark Roscaleer, the Georgian Shergili Farjiani and the Portuguese Fábio Loureiro and Fernando Ribeiro Ferreira. The five inmates, all of whom have already been recaptured, were serving sentences of between seven and 25 years in prison for crimes of drug trafficking, criminal association, robbery, kidnapping and money laundering, among others.
Source: Google News PT — Crime (pt)