GNR officers were arrested in Tavira this week
The two GNR police officers arrested in Tavira for allegedly kidnapping, assaulting, and extorting immigrants have been remanded in custody as they await trial.
According to tabloid newspaper Correio da Manhã, the criminal investigating judge in Faro justified the decision based on the need to “prevent interference with the investigation, avoid continued criminal activity, and safeguard public order and peace.”
One of the officers is reportedly facing charges of 16 counts of corruption (concussão), five counts of document forgery, and three counts of embezzlement.
The second officer is charged with 20 counts of corruption, three counts of document forgery, one count of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of serious bodily harm.
When announcing their arrest on Wednesday, GNR police in the Algarve said the officers are suspected of targeting members of minority communities, conducting illegal stops and allegedly attempting to extort money from them. Reports also suggest that in some cases, they used excessive force, forcing immigrants to withdraw money from ATM machines to pay fake fines.
