Ten members of the National Guard (GNR) and one officer from the municipal police (PSP) have been arrested as part of a group of 17 accused of trafficking and exploiting migrants to work in agriculture.
Portugal’s Criminal Investigation Department (PJ) and the National Guard (GNR) announced on Wednesday (November 26) that they had arrested ten officers from the GNR as well as one from the municipal police force PSP, on charges of human trafficking and exploitation of migrants.
The police officers were part of a larger group of 17 in total who were arrested and accused of being part of a "mafia-like" criminal organization, reported the Spanish news agency EFE. A total of 50 search warrants were issued.
The arrests followed “months of investigation” and "several raids", reported the German news agency dpa. The alleged head of the whole network is reported to be an Indian national who "escaped capture and is on the run."
According to investigators, the gang is accused of having kept hundreds of migrants without papers working in agricultural businesses around the regions of Beja, Portalegre, Figueira da Foz and Porto in "slave-like conditions."
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'Temporary employment agencies created to facilitate exploitation'
"Temporary employment agencies were created for the purposes [of exploitation]," stated the PJ.
Investigators said they believed the migrants were often beaten and forced to work without breaks in the fields from sunrise to sunset, under the threat of violence.
Most of the migrants were housed in makeshift accommodation, often consisting of dilapidated buildings, stated the PJ. Despite the state of their accommodation, the migrants were expected to pay for their mattresses and for the food and drink they were provided. Their papers, if they had them on entering the country, were taken from them.
The 17 arrested are due to appear before an investigating judge on Thursday (November 27). Charges include human trafficking, as well as aiding and abetting illegal immigration, document forgery, tax fraud, money laundering, corruption and abuse of office.
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Questioned then potentially deported
The migrants who had been working in these conditions were taken to an air force base in Beja where they will now be questioned. Although they appear to have been the alleged victims of the suspects, many may now face deportation, reported dpa.
Investigators also said there was a risk that some of the migrants may refuse to testify against the suspects, for fear of reprisals against their relatives in their countries of origin.
According to EFE, the 11 members of the security forces who were arrested are suspected of "facilitating the actions of a criminal group" in exchange for financial compensation. This alleged complicity from some members of the police forces meant that the migrants were told by the gang that reporting them to the police would not be a viable alternative.
With EFE and dpa