Olhão Maritime Police officers swooped on wild campers who has pitched their tents on the Ria Formosa island of Culatra.
Officers questioned 38 people, divided into four groups, after news reports had been circulated indicating tents had been erected in the sand dunes and bonfires had been lit.
This area is considered a highly sensitive and is within the Ria Formosa Natural Park where camping is not allowed.
Those identified were engaged in serious and very serious contraventions and fines are in the €400 to €4,000 range for wild camping in a prohibited area, and from €20,000 to €200,000 for making fires in an area designated as a Natural Reserve.
