GNR officers at a border post, this afternoon arrested two Chinese men found to be in possession of €480,000 in banknotes.
Operation ‘Fronteira Branca’ has seen unprecedented inspection levels at Portugal’s land, air and sea entry points before and during the Pope’s visit to Fátima.
The two Chinese men were arrested for money laundering at the border at Caia, Elvas, in the Portalegre district.
According to the GNR’s Territorial Command in Portalegre, the men, aged 35 and 36, were caught red-handed with wads of €50, €100 and €500 notes which have been impounded.
"The two detainees will be present at the first judicial interrogation this afternoon," added a delighted GNR spokesman.
Under the security operation due to the Pope's visit to Portugal, everyone coming to Portugal must show ID. The operation started at 00:00 on Wednesday and runs until 00:00 on Sunday.
These authorised entry points are Valença-Viana do Castelo, Vila Verde da Raia-Chaves, Quintanilha-Bragança, Vilar Formoso-Guarda, Termas de Monfortinho-Castelo Branco, Marvão-Portalegre, Caia-Elvas, Vila Verde de Ficalho-Beja and Vila Real de Santo António.
The document inspection regime was reinstated for "reasons of internal security and public order" due to the Pope’s visit, with the Government deciding to impose tight controls due to the "size, characteristics, complexity, media visibility and huge influx of people to the event" at Fátima, bearing in mind the "current context of threat."
Pope Francisco arrives tomorrow for the centennial celebrations of the apparitions and will leave on Saturday.
