The Judicial Police this Monday launched a mega-operation aimed at eliminating the criminal community responsible for the free movement of thousands of illegal migrants in Europe. At least ten people were detained by the SP and more than 6,000 illegal immigrants were identified. The operation was carried out simultaneously in Austria, Belgium, Germany, France and Spain.
The scheme was discovered abroad. The network operated from areas of Lisbon such as Martim Moniz. Several searches were carried out in Lisbon by the SP, mobilized by more than 110 inspectors, and by foreign authorities.
There were 18 search warrants in the residence and several search warrants outside the residence. An inspection was carried out of hotel establishments connected with the criminal network, which housed illegal immigrants, as well as the entrances of vehicles with illegal immigrants on board, preparing to enter the country.
More than a dozen people are suspected of being involved in the network, most from countries such as India and Pakistan. The suspects created a scheme that clogged up the SEF’s automated pre-planning system. The services could not handle calls from candidates who, under a 2007 Portuguese law, could move freely within the Schengen area even without an employment contract.
Another of the identified schemes was carried out through a false claim of loss of personal documents. Thus, papers were handed over to migrants, which could prove that they did not have documents, because they were stolen or lost. Thus, migrants could move around Europe.
Network leaders are suspected of attracting thousands of migrants who pay large sums to come to Portugal. Then they are left without an employment contract and live in poor conditions.
Over a year of investigation identified 337 vehicles between Lisbon/Paris/Lisbon, totaling over 6,000 illegal immigrants.
The detained accused will be presented to the competent judicial authorities for the first judicial examination and subsequent application of coercive measures as deemed appropriate.