Tiago Henrique Marques / Lusa
The suspects enlisted immigrants to come to Portugal with promises of work and documents obtained fraudulently.
The Judicial Police (PJ) determined 13 people suspected of integrating a criminal organization dedicated to Massive and fraudulent legalization of foreign citizens in Portugal.
The investigation, which began in September 2023 in the context of the “Gamberry” operation, revealed evidence of illegal immigration aid, criminal association, corruption, capital bleaching and document falsification.
Among the detainees are a lawyer, an employee of the Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) and seven businessmen. The operation involved 40 home searches And not home in locations such as Coimbra, Lisbon, Amadora, Loures, Odivelas, Carregal do Sal and Espinho, reports the.
According to the PJ, the group will have accumulated millions of euros in profits by facilitating the entry and legalization of immigrants, many of which do not effectively reside in Portugal, although they have workers in the country. Citizens were recruited in their countries of origin with Promises of employment contractslegal documentation, tax and social security numbers, bank accounts and residence attestants – all obtained fraudulently.
The investigation identified a vast scheme of corruption and forgery, with the aim of creating a legal facade that would allow immigrants to access rights and services in Portugal. In addition to the arrests, about one million euros were seized in cash, 11 vehicles (some of high displacement), Two elephant prey in ivory With about 50 kg, documentation and computer equipment used in falsifications.
Have yet Six Real Estate – among which a villa and three apartments – and 35 bank accounts, two financial products linked to the Bethan game platform, as well as a crypto account at Binance. The Centro region’s asset recovery office led the heritage seizure.
The operation mobilized about 200 PJ inspectorstwo judges, an attorney and elements of the Bar Association, with the collaboration of nine specialized PJ units, such as the combat of cybercrime, corruption and technological and financial expertise. The detainees, aged 26 to 64, will be presented to court for coercion measures.
