In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, five individuals were arrested early Wednesday morning in the Bairro da Cruz Vermelha area of Lisbon. The operation, which began at 5:00 AM, was conducted by the Public Security Police (PSP) and involved multiple searches across the city.
The operation was the culmination of an 11-month investigation aimed at dismantling a criminal network involved in the sale of drugs in public spaces. The PSP executed 15 search warrants, with eight in Bairro da Cruz Vermelha, six in the Alta de Lisboa area, and one in Camarate, a neighboring municipality.
The police reported that the suspects were responsible for managing direct sales to consumers through makeshift stalls in the Bairro da Cruz Vermelha. This illegal activity has reportedly created a climate of fear among local residents, with some areas being completely controlled by the suspects.
