Portugal's GNR cracks down on traffic violations and vehicle fraud

On July 24, the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) conducted a traffic stop on the EN3 near Carregado in the Lisbon metropolitan area. Officers seized a tractor and a semi‑trailer whose licence plates were falsified and whose VIN details did not match. The driver, a 59‑year‑old man, was charged with document fraud, driving without the required CE licence, operating without a tachograph card, lacking valid civil liability insurance, and driving an uninspected vehicle. The vehicles were taken into custody for forensic examination.

Between July 17 and 23, the GNR carried out a series of operations across Portugal targeting criminal activity and road safety. Police detained 533 individuals, including 203 for alcohol‑impaired driving, 96 for driving without a licence, 63 for drug trafficking, and others for theft, robbery, illegal weapons possession and domestic violence. Seizures included multiple doses of hashish, cocaine, MDMA, heroin and cannabis, 24 firearms, 11 prohibited weapons, 144 rounds of ammunition, 46 vehicles, five boats, 609 counterfeit items and €7,700 in cash. Traffic officers recorded 7,121 infractions, notably 1,279 for speeding and 1,038 for missing mandatory inspections.