Latest news and stories about judiciary police in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) is conducting searches this Wednesday at the Technological Prevention and Support Unit (UPAT) of the Judiciary Police (PJ), located in Barro, Loures.
The Attorney General's Office (Procuradoria-Geral da República or PGR) has received a formal complaint against the national director of the PJ, Carlos Cabreiro. The complaint, filed by a PJ coordinator, alleges abuse of power and illegal wiretapping during the Football Leaks investigation. Minister of Justice Rita Júdice has stated she maintains confidence in the director, who denies any wrongdoing.
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.
Carlos Cabreiro is the national director of the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ), the agency responsible for investigating serious crimes in Portugal. He has held this leadership role since April 2024, succeeding Luís Neves.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has promised to quickly appoint a new national director for the Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ). The position was left vacant when the former director, Luís Neves, was named Minister of Internal Administration (Ministro da Administração Interna). Residents should note that the Prime Minister assured that the police force is currently operating with “total regularity” during the transition.
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.
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 Judiciary Police faces scrutiny after it was revealed that 16 out of 17 contracts with a Minho-based construction firm were awarded through exceptional procurement regimes, bypassing standard public tenders under the justification of security concerns.
An editorial analysis of the controversies surrounding Luís Neves, highlighting the political pressure on the Minister of Internal Administration to provide transparent explanations regarding his financial and personal conduct.
Prime Minister Montenegro has pledged to expedite the appointment of a new national director for the Judiciary Police, while emphasizing that the organization continues to function with total regularity under current leadership.
Operation “Dorica” led to the arrest of nine suspects, aged between 24 and 50, and the seizure of 434 kilograms of cocaine originating from Latin America, which was transported via high-speed vessels.
Nine men were arrested. The suspects were armed with assault rifles that they reportedly attempted to use at the time of their arrest.
The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested a 56-year-old foreign national in Braga who was internationally wanted by Interpol at the request of Vietnamese authorities for committing fraud, it was announced today.
The Socialist Party (PS) summons 34 names to the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee regarding Luís Neves' terms at the Judiciary Police. There are 20 new additions, including Montenegro, Amadeu Guerra, Lucília Gago, and Paulo Vizeu Pinheiro.
The PCP has requested hearings for Luís Neves and three others as part of a parliamentary inquiry into the current Minister of Internal Administration's tenure as Director of the Judiciary Police (PJ) between 2018 and 2026. The request, signed by PCP deputy Paula Costa, aims to question Luísa Proença, former deputy national director of the PJ; Carlos Cabreiro, the current national director who succeeded Neves; and Álvaro Pires, director of Financial and Asset Management. The inquiry, chaired by André Ventura, seeks to investigate potential irregularities during Neves's leadership, including the disappearance of seized assets, public contract awards, and alleged leaks of confidential information to the office of former Prime Minister António Costa.
António José Seguro promises to remain “attentive and vigilant, ask the questions he must, and act with discretion”. Luís Neves did not attend the 81st anniversary of the Judiciary Police.
The President of the Republic explained that his presence at the 81st anniversary of the Judiciary Police was also intended to demonstrate support for the institution, protect its legacy, and reinforce trust in its mission.
The management of assets seized by the institution during the tenure of Luís Neves is being audited. “The prestige of the PJ is not in question, it never has been,” declared the Minister of Justice.
The statements were made this Tuesday morning during the Judiciary Police anniversary.
He will serve a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for the crimes of receiving stolen goods and illegal possession of a weapon.
The Judiciary Police suspect that the former Secretary of State deleted WhatsApp messages exchanged with the son of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa that were “relevant” to the investigation.
Carlos Cabreiro maintains that he is fit to remain in his position as director of the Judiciary Police.
Deferring all responses to the suspicions against him to the “appropriate venue,” Cabreiro stated that he feels the confidence of the Ministry of Justice.
The national director of the Judiciary Police stated that all responses to the suspicions against him will be addressed in the appropriate forum.
When confronted about the results of these searches, Amadeu Guerra only stated that the case is under judicial secrecy and, therefore, he would not provide any details regarding seized material.
There is no record of the Public Prosecutor's Office ever having searched the national director's office. 'The PJ is not a gang of criminals,' an official indignantly stated, arguing that the Public Prosecutor's Office could have chosen to request the documents instead.
The Public Prosecutor's Office carried out searches at the Judiciary Police (PJ) related to an ongoing inquiry following a complaint alleging that the national director of the PJ committed perjury and abuse of power in court.
RTP has learned that the National Director of the Judiciary Police stands by everything he said during the Rui Pinto trial and has no intention of resigning.
Investigation seeks to determine if the Judiciary Police conducted illegal wiretaps in October 2015, in the context of the Football Leaks case. The inquiry targeting Carlos Cabreiro has no formal suspects.
The Attorney General's Office guarantees that the mobile phone of the national director of the Judiciary Police (PJ) was not seized during the searches that took place this Wednesday at the police headquarters. “In the course of the search and seizure proceedings, carried out this Wednesday, which aim to collect evidence tending to confirm the facts contained in the...”
The Public Prosecution Service is conducting searches this Wednesday, September 23, at the Judiciary Police's Technological Prevention and Support Unit regarding a complaint against director Carlos Cabreiro. The complaint relates to the Football Leaks case, with PJ coordinator David Freitas alleging that Cabreiro lied in court by claiming no field searches were conducted. The PJ confirmed that procedural steps were taken at its facilities under an inquiry led by the Public Prosecution Service, stating it is cooperating fully. The Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) confirmed the investigation into potential crimes of abuse of power and aggravated false testimony. The inquiry, which is under judicial secrecy, involves no formal suspects at this stage.
The Chega party has submitted a new request to the Assembly of the Republic for a parliamentary inquiry commission (CPI) regarding the conduct of Luís Neves as director of the Judiciary Police. The new proposal maintains the original timeframe (2018-2026) but provides more specific details on the scope of the investigation, including the handling of seized assets, potential conflicts of interest, and the disappearance of evidence such as weapons and cryptocurrency. This follows the rejection of a previous request, with party leader André Ventura insisting on the necessity of the inquiry despite procedural hurdles.
Chega announced on Thursday that it will once again propose the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the terms of Luís Neves as director of the Judiciary Police.
Commentator Luís Marcelino considers it important to investigate the actions of Luís Neves at the Judiciary Police.
Chega will once again propose the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the terms of Luís Neves as director of the Judiciary Police, after the President of the Assembly of the Republic rejected the last two proposals. The announcement was made by the president of Chega in statements to journalists at Parliament, after he had...
The perception we once had of the Judiciary Police was positive and robust, one we would describe as the “best police force in the world” without stuttering. Today, we are already sobbing. Editorial by Pedro Candeias.
