Judicial Police seizes €15 million in assets across two drug-trafficking cases
The Judicial Police has seized assets worth approximately €15 million as part of two investigations into drug trafficking and criminal association.
Judicial Police recovers €15 million in assets linked to drug trafficking
The Judicial Police has seized and impounded assets valued at approximately €15 million as part of two investigations into drug trafficking and criminal association, according to observador.pt, which cites a statement from the security force released on Monday.
The seizures were carried out under the extended asset forfeiture regime, which allows for preventive freezing of assets during the investigation phase. The mechanism is activated by the Judicial Police's Assets Recovery Office (GRA) with the aim of preventing the disposal of assets before a court decision is reached.
In the first case, still in the pre-trial investigation phase, five defendants—some in preventive custody—are accused of drug trafficking, criminal association and money laundering. The authorities froze 93 plots of land and properties worth more than €12 million, as well as financial products, shareholdings and vehicles. The total seized in this case amounts to nearly €13 million. The investigation concluded that the defendants obtained profits exceeding €25 million through the commission of these crimes. The Judicial Police justified the measures by citing a "well-founded concern over asset dissipation, which would undermine the effectiveness of future forfeiture in favour of the State".
The second case involves 15 defendants, equally accused of drug trafficking, criminal association and money laundering, and is currently at the trial stage in Lisbon court. The Assets Recovery Office seized and froze assets worth nearly €2 million already during the hearing phase. The assets identified include a warehouse, three units of a residential property, a three-bedroom flat, a restaurant, four houses, motor vehicles and financial shareholdings.
Source: Google News PT — Crime (pt)