Two Lisbon municipal police officers, belonging to motorcycle squads, were arrested late Wednesday afternoon for allegedly being involved in a network trafficking women for prostitution. The crime of aggravated pimping is also at stake. The two agents, members of the PSP assigned to the Lisbon Municipal Police, were arrested by colleagues from the Criminal Investigation Department of the PSP in Lisbon.

The victims, who were from Brazil, were placed in a house and subjected to threats and coercion. Some may have been attacked. The police intimidate them and force them into prostitution. A woman who ran the scheme and recruited victims was also arrested in Brazil.

The general police operation included searches by municipal police (in the detainees' work areas) and seven searches, mostly of suspects' homes and the house where the women were detained, in Lisbon and the Algarve.

According to the Public Prosecution, the investigation has been ongoing for a year and a half And “It identified a structure that exploits women in prostitution, subjects them to degrading and inhumane conditions, forces them to work almost permanently, and limits their freedom and self-determination.”

“The structure investigated, which has now been suppressed, consisted of a woman who ran the business and had numerous collaborators, both in the space used for prostitution and as a support network. As part of the investigation, two police officers were identified, “currently holding jobs in the Lisbon Municipal Police,” Which is believed to be linked to the exploitation of women in prostitution,” as the Lisbon Public Police describes in a statement.

A police source added to Lusa that the area used for the activity is located in the Chiado area.

According to the investigation, the source also said that two Lisbon municipal police officers went to the site, often wearing uniforms, to exert a kind of pressure and intimidation on the victims, until they cooperate.

In this structure, the woman running the business had “many collaborators,” both in the space used for prostitution and as a support network.

The first judicial investigation with the three detainees, aged between 40 and 45 years It is scheduled for this Thursday. The authorities also named two defendants.

Clarification request for Carlos Moedas

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Bloco de Esquerda submitted a request for clarification to the President of the Lisbon City Council, Carlos Moedas, regarding the arrest of the two agents, and also requested the presence of the municipal police chief at the next executive meeting.

In the memo sent to the newsrooms, signed by Councilor Beatriz Gomez Dias, BE considered this an “extremely serious” situation.

“On Thursday, we learned that two agents of the Lisbon Municipal Police were arrested in an operation carried out by the Criminal Investigation Division of the PSP for allegedly being involved in a human trafficking scheme. Dozens of women were placed in homes and forced into prostitution using threats and intimidations.” Physical violence,” the memorandum stated.

The bloc asks in the application whether Carlos Moedas was aware of the situation and, if so, how long he was informed of it and what actions he would take after the events.

The Social Democratic Party also asks about its readiness to summon the Lisbon Municipal Police Chief to provide clarifications to the executive authority.