GNR
The existence of the laboratory was detected after several complaints from residents about failures in the electricity supply in several areas of the town, located in Santarém, caused by high energy consumption.
The Santarém Court began hearing this Thursday 12 citizens of Chinese nationalitydetained by the PJ in a warehouse in the Felgueiras area, where they were dedicated to planting and growing cannabis on a large scale.
According to , the accused were first caught in January 2025, in Alcanhões, near Santarém, where they maintained a drug production laboratory in the village’s old bakery.
The group, consisting of eight men and four women Without dual nationality, he was only present before a judge this Thursday, with the judicial interrogation continuing this Friday.
The investigation was prolonged due to difficulties in translationsince none of the accused understands the Portuguese language, which prevented the explanation of their personal situation since they are in Portugal.
After Alcanhões and before Felgueiras, the group would also have passed through the surroundings of Alcobaça and other locations in the north of the country, dedicating themselves to the same activity.
The existence of the laboratory was detected after complaints from residents due to interruptions in electricity supply in parts of the town, due to the high energy consumption it caused.
In addition to the drugs, several rooms created for drugs were found. different stages of plant maturationwith sophisticated ventilation and heating systems, and seized 526 heat lamp starters, 392 heat lamps, 213 electrical circuit breakers, 72 gas extractors, 67 large filters, 71 fans, 29 ventilators, 7 greenhouse controllers, 3 precision scales and various material related to production, drying and packaging.
Closed in 2013 and after several years of abandonment, the facilities were sold in 2018 at public auction to a Portuguese citizen, and were subsequently acquired by a citizen of Asian origin, who placed iron sheets on the walls around the property, blocking the view to the interior.
