The Judiciary Police (PJ) conducted searches this Monday, 10 November, across the Lisbon, Caldas da Rainha, and Nazaré regions, targeting Nazaré Town Hall, several state agencies, the headquarters of private companies, and a tourist development. The investigation centres on suspicions of complicity in forgery, corruption, and money laundering.
The searches relate to a 40-year concession contract concerning the private use of a section of the public maritime domain, also including the public water domain, located in the port area of Nazaré’s Harbour. The agreement involves the renovation and maintenance of nine houses in that area, to be used for tourism purposes.
A source close to the case told press that, in addition to Nazaré Town Hall, searches were also carried out at the Portuguese Environment Agency, Docapesca, the Directorate of Lighthouses, and the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Coordination and Development Commission.
In a statement sent to the media, the PJ explained that the operation involved the execution of 15 search warrants, both residential and non-residential, under an investigation dubbed “Operation Dunas” The searches took place in the regions of Lisbon, Caldas da Rainha and Nazaré, including at a publicly owned limited company, a municipal authority, five state entities, the headquarters of three private firms, and a tourist resort.
A total of 40 criminal investigators and forensic experts from the Judiciary Police took part in the operation, along with three Public Prosecutor’s Office magistrates. The operation was also supported by the PJ’s Central Directorate, the Cyber Forensics Unit and the Financial and Accounting Forensics Unit.
The PJ stated that the investigation will now continue with the analysis of the evidence gathered, “both documentary and digital in nature.”
