Following arrests by the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ), the Lisbon District Judicial Court (Tribunal Judicial da Comarca de Lisboa) placed 11 defendants in preventive detention (prisão preventiva) in connection with Operation Hermes. The cross-border investigation targets an alleged value-added tax (Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado or IVA) carousel fraud involving electronic goods that cost European treasuries over €150 million. Ten other suspects were released on bail up to €100,000 alongside regular check-in requirements.
Eleven Suspects Held in Custody in Operation Hermes
Saturday, 10 October 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
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.
Preventive detention (prisão preventiva) is a court-ordered measure that keeps a suspect in custody before trial when a judge decides there is a real risk they might flee, tamper with evidence, or pose a danger to others. It is temporary and not a conviction; in the recent case five of the 37 alleged members were ordered to await the investigation in preventive detention by the Central Criminal Investigation Court. Those detained should request a lawyer and can seek consular assistance if they are foreign nationals, while family or lawyers can ask the court to review or lift the measure.
4 sources
- Operation Hermes: 11 of those arrested for mega-VAT fraud remain in pre-trial detention while the others are releasedcmjornal.pt ·
- Operation Hermes: Eleven detainees held in preventive detentionobservador.pt ·
- Operation Hermes: Remand in custody for 11 arrested for VAT frauddn.pt ·
- Eleven defendants in Operation Hermes remanded in custodyrtp.pt ·
