“Other operations will also take place”: Ministry of Internal Affairs about a mega-operation against a network of illegal migrants in Europe

Interior Minister José Luis Carneiro reacted this Monday to the mega-operation carried out to curb the network of illegal migrants in Europe and said that “other operations of this kind will be carried out in the near future” to put an end to “actions that may constitute criminal offenses “.

The Interior Minister stated that “The JV will train our internal security system to combat illegal migration and human trafficking.”

José Luis Carneiro said the SP operation “is a matter for the Ministry of Justice” and ensured that the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) cooperated.

“It is important that this message be conveyed: Practices that constitute criminal offenses of aiding illegal immigration or human trafficking must merit – as they deserve – prompt and effective action to uphold the rule of law and protect fundamental rights,” he added.

According to José Luis Carneiro, there are suspicions that the alleged criminal network was developing “methodologies that may constitute a criminal offense” that allegedly took advantage of “tools that have been designed to facilitate and assist” citizens to find “usual and legal ways » to immigrate to Portugal.

“What we must denounce, and what a firm hand needs to be held, are illegal or irregular activities that seek to unduly go beyond the tools created to support immigration on a regular basis,” the minister stressed.

José Luis Carneiro also stressed that the ongoing operation showed that the government was aware of possible illegal activities.

“The integration of SEF inspectors into the SP, as we will see in the near future, will also train our internal security system to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking,” he stressed.