Three separate calls about a bomb on the premises were received by Porto’s São João Novo courthouse this morning, disrupting the trial of seven stevedores accused of receiving €40,000 to “facilitate the entry into this country of cocaine from Brazilian mafia PCC (Primeiro Comando Capital)”.
The seven were due to be questioned in today’s session, but plans had to be shelved – including the work due to take place in other courtrooms.
The bomb threats arrived by telephone, starting at 9.30am.
It was not until 11.40am that staff and lawyers were given the ‘all-clear’ to re-enter the building, by elements of the PSP’s ‘bomb squad’.
This trial follows one of the many phenomenal PJ police ‘drug busts’ of last year – and a degree of exposure on the entry of members of PCC into this country – and their subsequent activities.
Jornal de Notícias reports that the seven stevedores were part of a group of 13 people arrested last March – and are believed to have overseen the trafficking of hundreds of kilos of cocaine, hidden in maritime containers, through the Port of Leixões.
Sources: SIC/ Jornal de Notícias
