The four man Algarve tobacco gang has been arrested in Olhão according to a GNR report. Thousands of packets of cigarettes, plasma TVs and other appliances were recovered.
The suspects, aged between 29 and 42, may well be the gang responsible for more than 50 thefts from tobacco shops across the Algarve.
"These crimes have been reported in the municipalities of Faro, Olhão, Tavira, Loulé and Silves" revealed the GNR which on Tuesday executed five warrants to search the houses of the suspects, as well as a bakery and three vehicles.
The methods used by the suspects consisted of prising open the door or windows of cafes and restaurants to get to the cigarette vending machine inside. These were then broken into on site, or sometimes carted away, later found to have been totally destroyed and dumped in remote places.
During the operation the GNR seized "thousands of packets of various cigarette brands, a tobacco vending machine, plasma TVs, laptops, bottles of whisky, liqueurs and port, more than 100 gas cylinders, angle grinders, playstations, stereos, DVD players and various tools and appliances.”
Working with the Criminal Investigation Brigade of the PSP and the Center for Criminal Investigation of the GNR were two teams from the Authority for Food and Economic Safety (ASAE). All are said to eb delighted that this four man crime wave has at last been busted in an operation that took four months to plan and execute.
The four are to be heard in Faro court.
