Fifty-five people arrested
PJ judicial police have led a swoop on various homes and premises this morning targeting an alleged criminal network that has allegedly been recruiting women to marry immigrants.
A total of 55 people have been arrested.
Operation ‘Digital Alliance’ saw 300 PJ inspectors, carrying out 57 warrants for arrest and apprehension, throughout the country – but mostly in the Greater Lisbon area.
SIC Notícias says the operation has “uncovered a criminal network that recruited women to marry immigrants in exchange for money to obtain Portuguese nationality. 55 people were arrested”.
In a statement sent to journalists, the PJ says the suspects used social networks to “promote the fraudulent regularisation of foreign citizens”.
“Initially, foreign citizens travelled to Portugal to meet with the suspects, where it was explained to them that the easiest way to regularise and obtain a residence permit would be to open a company.
“Later, as these procedures were demanding, the suspects began to suggest marriages of convenience with Portuguese citizens, with no relationship between the couple, in return for high monetary payments,” says the PJ.
According to Diário de Notícias, the investigation goes back to 2018 when suspicions arose over the “fraudulent regularisation of immigrants of Algerian origin: contacts were made via social networks, where it was possible to arrange a marriage with Portuguese citizens by paying large sums of money. The foreigners then travelled to Portugal to get married”.
The PJ’s operation is being carried out by its Cybercrime Unit and involves the gathering of mainly digital evidence.
The PJ statement has said that today’s searches enabled the recovery and apprehension of “very relevant” evidence of a “documental and digital nature”, and for the identification of other suspects.
The 55 people arrested so far will be questioned by pubic prosecutors before any decision is made on their bail measures.
Further information on this operation is due at a press conference at the PJ headquarters in Lisbon later this afternoon
DN adds that crimes in the frame (the aiding of and association with illegal immigration, and IT fraud) are punishable by between 1 and 5 years in prison. Those who promote these practices in an organised or repeated manner face a penalty of between 2 and 6 years.
Sources: SIC Notícias/ Diário de Notícias/ Polícia Judiciária
