Four GNR officers are among eight suspects caught in an operation to combat metal theft.
The investigation was carried out by the Department of Investigation and Prosecution of Lisbon, the Procurator General and the Fiscal Action Unit of the GNR.
According to a statement issued today by the Attorney General's Office, three of the defendants were arrested on the job as they removed scrap metal valued at €761,000 from an industrial site.
According to the investigators, the GNR officers were 'unlawfully exercising their functions' by taking part in the thefts and then helping to sell large quantities of metal to a recycling business.
After initial questioning, the defendants all were indicted for the crimes of 'passive and active corruption, the practice unlawful acts, embezzlement, and qualified theft and forgery.'
The main defendant was held on remand while the remaining GNR officers based at Estarreja near Aveiro were suspended and have to report in every two weeks.
The operation included house searches and searches at the recycling business where 4,500 kg of scrap metal was discovered.