Latest news and stories about economic crime in Portugal for expats and residents.
Economic and financial crime accelerated in 2025, a year in which money laundering re-emerged as the primary driver of this criminal sector. According to the Annual Internal Security Report, the number of investigations in this area increased by 22% compared to 2024, while the number of defendants rose by 49.6% and the number of arrests soared by 154%.
The RASI report states that this trend is likely linked to the increasing use of digital platforms, which creates opportunities for this type of crime, 'the proceeds of which are then integrated into international financial circuits.'
The Public Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against five defendants, including four individuals and one legal entity from the Berardo Group, for the crime of qualified tax fraud. In a statement, the Public Prosecutor's Office reveals that the State was allegedly defrauded of approximately 140,000 euros. According to Público, the Madeiran businessman Joe Berardo is...
The Public Prosecutor's Office has charged 35 defendants, including a company from Vale de Cambra and its main administrators, in a tax fraud case that allegedly caused 1.6 million euros in losses to the State and the European Union. A statement released on the Porto Regional Attorney General's Office website notes that, by an order dated...
The Public Prosecutor's Office has charged 35 defendants, including a company from Vale de Cambra and its main administrators, in a tax fraud case that allegedly defrauded the State and the European Union of 1.6 million euros. The scheme involved the use of fake invoices to obtain financial incentives and VAT refunds, as well as the misuse of company funds for personal expenses, including luxury goods, travel, and private household staff.
