Young men are suspected of crimes of abuse of power and attempted extortion
Two young officers from Portugal’s GNR police have been arrested in Tavira on suspicion of committing several serious crimes, including abuse of power and attempted extortion.
The arrests, made on May 21 by the GNR’s own Criminal Investigation Unit in Faro, involved two servicemen aged 23 and 25. According to the authorities, the investigation began internally after concerning behaviour was flagged and “immediately communicated to the Public Prosecutor’s Office”.
In a statement, Faro’s GNR territorial command says 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.
Evidence gathered during the inquiry was enough to justify their arrest, the military police force says. The two will now appear before Faro’s Criminal Court for a preliminary hearing where a judge will decide on the next legal steps.
In its statement, GNR police underlines its zero-tolerance policy for misconduct within its ranks. The force reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, vowing to act firmly even when wrongdoing comes from within its own institution.
