“Silence does not harm, but also does not benefit”, was the strategy used by the twelve defendants, including “Pópó”, of the gang of drug dealers caught with more than a million euros in banknotes and almost a hundred kilos of cannabis.
Joaquim F., the millionaire drug dealer who was seized the most 1,2 million euros and the other eleven defendants, their accomplices, refused to give statements at the first session of the trial held on the morning of this Monday in the Noble Hall of the former Civil Government of Beja, exceptionally transferred to this location given the number of defendants.
“Popó”, as he is known in the world of trafficking in the main defendant, led a group that purchased large amounts of cannabis from Spanish individuals and then distributed it to “dealers” in Greater Lisbon.
The twelve defendants only responded to the Panel of Judges about their identities, nothing wanting to reveal about the contours of its activity that the inspectors of the Judiciary Police believe to have started during the year of 2019 and increase in volume with the Covid-19 pandemic, given the shortage of narcotics, due to the closure of the borders with Spain.
During a later, Inspectors of the National Unit to Combat Drug Trafficking were heard (UNCT) da PJ, responsible for the investigation and elements of the PSP and GNR who accompanied those elements in many of the follow-up actions and the seizure of narcotics and money made to the group.
Remember that in the morning of the day 20 May 2021, PJ inspectors entered a warehouse located in Aldeia do Ronquenho, in Ferreira do Alentejo, they found 908 cannabis packaging, with the overall weight of 91,5 kilograms and 300 thousand euros hidden in a car. the rest of the notes, more than 900 thousand euros was hidden in the wall of the building, concealed with wooden boards, situation that did not deceive the PJ inspectors.
The defendants are charged with the crimes of aggravated drug trafficking, bleaching, personal favor, aggravated harm and possession of a prohibited weapon. The trial has sessions scheduled for today and tomorrow throughout the day..
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
