The European Public Prosecutor's Office has requested documents from the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) regarding construction contracts awarded to the firm Construbarcelos while the current Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, served as the national director of the PJ. The investigation follows reports that the PJ, under Neves, transferred a trailer containing hazardous drug-production solvents to a private facility after security concerns were raised at a Navy site. Government officials stated they do not intervene in the day-to-day management of such entities.
European prosecutors investigate construction contracts from Neves' tenure
Monday, 3 August 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Luís Neves will take office on Monday as Minister of Internal Administration. He graduated in law and has worked at the Judicial Police since 1995, where he served as coordinator of a national unit and developed a long career in criminal investigation.
The PJ (Polícia Judiciária) is Portugal's national criminal investigation police agency, founded in 1945. Operating under the Ministry of Justice and supervised by the Public Ministry (prosecutors), the PJ is a "higher criminal police body" specializing in serious and complex crimes. Mission: The PJ assists judicial and prosecuting authorities by investigating terrorism, organized crime, homicide, kidnapping, drug trafficking, corruption, cybercrime, financial crime, and money laundering. It conducts forensic examinations, operates Portugal's Interpol and Europol liaison offices, and maintains specialized units including the National Counterterrorism Unit and National Anti-Corruption Unit. Difference from PSP/GNR: While PSP (civilian urban police) and GNR (military rural police) focus on preventive policing, public order, and investigating minor crimes, the PJ exclusively handles serious crime investigation requiring specialized technical and scientific expertise. PSP and GNR report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs; PJ reports to the Ministry of Justice. PJ officers receive higher pay and prestige but face greater operational risk.
5 sources
- Awarding of services by Lusa is the responsibility of the administration, says Governmentpublico.pt ·
- European Public Prosecutor's Office requests documents from the PJ regarding works awarded during Luís Neves' tenureeco.sapo.pt ·
- European Public Prosecutor's Office investigation 'raises the bar' on the Luís Neves controversy, but 'many questions remain unanswered'cnnportugal.iol.pt ·
- Beyond Luís Nevesobservador.pt ·
- Luís Neves tripled the budget and could not find 150,000 eurosdn.pt ·
