GNR identifies seven suspects of drug trafficking on Algarve coast
Seven men were identified at Boca do Rio beach, in Vila do Bispo, suspected of drug trafficking. The case has been handed over to the Judicial Police.
Seven suspects identified at Boca do Rio in drug operation
The GNR identified seven men suspected of drug trafficking on Tuesday at Boca do Rio beach, in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, district of Faro, according to observador.pt.
The alert came in at 6:40 a.m., when members of the public contacted the Guard to report "vessels with anomalous movement" near that beach and to indicate that an immigrant landing was imminent. Elements from the local GNR detachment and resources from the Coastal Control Unit (UCC) were mobilised.
Upon arrival at the scene, the authorities concluded that it was, most likely, a case of drug trafficking rather than an irregular immigration operation. Major Hélder Lima, from the public relations department of the GNR's UCC, told the Lusa agency that the indications on the ground, "mainly the behaviour" of the suspects, pointed to the practice of the crime of drug trafficking.
The seven identified individuals are all male, aged between 21 and 44 years. Five have Portuguese nationality and two are foreign nationals. None was arrested or constituted as a defendant, and no seizures were made.
"No seizures were made and these individuals were merely identified, and not arrested or constituted as defendants," Major Hélder Lima stressed.
The occurrence was communicated to the Public Prosecutor's Office, which determined that the Judicial Police should be notified to take over the investigation. The matter may involve the crime of international drug trafficking, which falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the PJ.
Source: Google News PT — Crime (pt)