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Around 500 people from South Asia were threatened, attacked and lived in precarious conditions. 10 GNR soldiers and a PSP agent would receive 400 euros per weekend to monitor, control and attack them.
The immigrant labor exploitation network this Tuesday would control around 500 foreign workers from South Asia, many of them in an irregular situation, recruited with the promise of work contracts and regularization of documents.
A network was led by a Portuguese citizen and supported by ten GNR soldiers and a PSP agent.
According to , the GNR soldiers from Beja would function, in practice, as overseers of the network. They were paid to monitor, control and, in several cases, attack foreign workers. At times they performed these duties in uniform, at others in civilian clothes. They would receive about 400 euros per weekend and 200 euros per weekday for his role in the scheme.
The workers were housed in warehouses, spread across several villages, where they spent the night in precarious conditions.
Members of the security forces guaranteed control and surveillance of workers, resorting to threats and making them believe that filing a complaint with the authorities was not a viable alternative.
In a statement, the PJ describes a coercion scenario, with charges for accommodation and food and several episodes of offenses against physical integrity.
The investigation that began in 2023 has now led to the execution of 50 search warrants and 17 arrest warrants in Portalegre, Figueira da Foz, Porto and Beja. Among the 17 detained, only two are foreigners. At stake are suspicions of aid to illegal immigration, falsification of documents, tax fraud and money laundering.
The Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action, which directs the investigation, admits that the facts are capable of forming part of the crime of human trafficking. However, not all of the approximately 500 foreigners will be formally flagged as victims of this crime.
The General Inspectorate of Internal Administration announced that, as soon as the identities of the suspects are confirmed, it will propose the opening of the respective disciplinary proceedings. The General Command of the GNR publicly repudiated the acts of which its soldiers are suspected and promised full collaboration with the Public Ministry and the PJ. Also the National Directorate of the PSP, which confirms that the agent involved has been on leave for 14 monthsensures that disciplinary procedures considered appropriate will be initiated.
