The man, who was arrested on Monday, “used Portugal as the alleged ‘logistical platform’ of an alleged criminal association with ramifications to other countries and dedicated to the transport and exploitation of people from African countries, bound for Europe via Portugal, ”says the SEF, in a statement sent to the Lusa agency.
The SEF investigation began in March this year, with the detention at Lisbon Airport of another foreign citizen who was trying to transport a minor from Luanda to Cape Verde, and was also detained with the preventive detention measure.
The minor “is flagged as a victim of the alleged crime of trafficking in persons, being duly welcomed and protected”, the note said.
Over the past few years, this alleged criminal association will have brought a significant number of minors to Europe, says the SEF.
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