In a statement, the PJ stressed that the detainees, aged between 30 and 36, are suspected of the crimes of qualified fraud, money laundering and document forgery, with the case being handled by the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP) of Loulé.

The group's members are suspected of taking out loans in the name of third parties and receiving money to import cars and boats, without then making the delivery, he said, stressing that the "global value of the frauds currently exceeds one million euros".

As part of Operation “Gatsby”, led by the PJ’s Southern Directorate, 12 house searches and three non-house searches were carried out and two properties in the Algarve, three high-end vehicles and around 25 thousand euros were seized, as well as a computer, telecommunications and documentation equipment.

According to the criminal police agency, the investigations began in 2024 and also led to the seizure of “several firearms, ammunition and narcotic products (heroin and cocaine)”.

“At issue is the investigation of an organized group that, persistently and repeatedly, has been committing criminal offenses in different aspects, in order to obtain illegitimate enrichment that allows it to sustain the luxurious standard of living that it boasts, incompatible with the lawful income that it is known to have”.

The group was dedicated to creating “‘front’ companies” that were “strategically placed in the name of third parties” to “hide the action and identity of the true beneficiaries” and that had the “collaboration of individuals specialised in this type of crime”, highlighted the PJ.

Investigators found evidence that the detainees resorted to “obtaining credit from banking institutions fraudulently and defrauding insurance companies” and “offered victims various deals involving the import of high-end vehicles, as well as some boats”.

After the victims received “large sums” to start importing vehicles, the deals ended up “not being completed”, with the group “misappropriating amounts exceeding 450 thousand euros”, the PJ also said, stressing that “coercion and threats” were used against the victims to prevent them from filing a complaint with the authorities.

The detainees reside in Lisbon or the Algarve and will be brought before the court to undergo the first judicial interrogation and learn about the coercive measures applied.