The Portuguese Police (PSP) announced the seizure of over 60 vehicles and mobility devices associated with theft, robbery, and breach of trust as part of a joint European operation. The operation, which took place from September 28 to October 9, was led by Interpol and had its operational coordination center in Warsaw, Poland. The PSP participated in the operation, dubbed Joint Action Day (JAD) Mobile 9, which focused on various forms of vehicle-related crime.
The operation was carried out simultaneously across Europe and targeted several types of vehicle-related crimes, including the trafficking of stolen vehicles across external borders and associated document fraud. The PSP conducted significant operational activity, resulting in the recovery and seizure of over 60 vehicles and mobility devices, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and scooters linked to theft, robbery, and breach of trust.
Among the vehicles located were several marked in the Schengen Information System (SIS). The operation also identified at least 15 vehicles with international markings or connections and detected five counterfeit driving licenses and over a dozen cases of vehicle-related fraud, including the use of fake license plates and altered engine records. The PSP highlighted the importance of international police cooperation and information sharing in combating mobility-related crime.
The PSP deployed an officer to the Operation Coordination Center, who was responsible for operational coordination and ensured permanent articulation between participating authorities and real-time sharing of relevant operational information. The PSP emphasized that these results demonstrate the importance of international police cooperation and information sharing in combating crime associated with mobility.
The operation allowed for the identification of vehicles, documents, and individuals related to criminal activity. The PSP's participation in the operation included a strong component of international police cooperation, with checks carried out on police databases and operational information exchanged with several countries, supported by international partners.
At the European level, the operation resulted in the seizure of over 700 vehicles and 334 arrests. The PSP's results show the effectiveness of joint operations in tackling vehicle-related crime. The authorities highlighted the significance of cooperation and information sharing in identifying and disrupting criminal networks.
The operation demonstrates the ability of authorities to identify and seize vehicles and devices associated with crime. The PSP's involvement in the operation reflects the importance of international cooperation in combating mobility-related crime. The authorities will likely continue to participate in joint operations to tackle vehicle-related crime.
Key points
- Portuguese police seize over 60 vehicles in a joint European operation against auto theft and trafficking.
- The operation, led by Interpol, resulted in the seizure of over 700 vehicles and 334 arrests at the European level.
- The PSP highlighted the importance of international police cooperation and information sharing in combating mobility-related crime.
