The Former chief of staff for Defence Minister Azeredo Lopes said his boss knew everything about the Tancos weapons cover-up, knowledge that the former minister denied as he resigned on October 12th.
Martins Pereira said he had informed the minister about a document outlining the covert activities that saw the weapons cache dropped off in a field close to the military arms store at Tancos, Santarém.
Pereira formally stated on Wednesday that yes, he had informed Defence Minister Azeredo Lopes of the Tancos memorandum in which the weapons cover-up operation was reported in full.
This key document was delivered by the former director of the Military Judiciary Police, Luís Vieira, less than a year ago. As soon as he received the memorandum, Lieutenant General Martins Pereira claims to have passed the information to Azeredo Lopes.
Martins Pereira was heard yesterday as a witness in the Tacos inquiry, stating that wehen he received the document, he immediately called the minister on WhatsApp, whose phone calls and messages are encrypted.
In order to substantiate his allegations, Martins Pereira handed his mobile phone to the investigators, so they can check it out.
When Lopes resigned, he continued to deny that he had any knowledge, "direct or indirect,” of an operation in which an elaborate cover-up intended to protect the perpetrator of the Tancos weapons theft in 2017.
See also: Defence Minister resigns still denying knowledge of Tancos cover-up
