Olive thefts lead the number of seizures of agricultural products carried out by the National Republican Guard (GNR) last year. The Beja district was where the largest quantity of futado olives was recovered, next to 40 tons.
According to data provided by the general command of the Guard, olive thefts were reported in five districts on the continent, which correspond to a total of 44.221 kilos of seized product, with Beja leading in the number of seizures made, with 39719 kg. The other districts where olive thefts have occurred are Castelo Branco (35 kg), Évora (3398Kg), Lighthouse (107 kg) and Portalegre (962 kg).
These seizures result from the Campo Seguro operation carried out by that security force throughout the national territory between 26 of June and day 31 December 2023. “The GNR intensified patrolling, inspection and awareness raising on agricultural and forestry farms, throughout the national territory, with the aim of preventing crime in general and theft in particular, as well as possible situations of human trafficking.â€, reported a source from the general command.
Only in the district of Bragança is there a record of chestnut theft last year, having been seized 797 kg. In Faro, they were seized 1350 kg of carob, that had been stolen. The GNR also indicates two cork seizures in Beja (710 kg) and Santarém (15 kg). There are only reports of Jatropha in Lisbon (234 kg) and Setúbal (102 kg). In Faro there was also the seizure of 134 kg of avocado.
The GNR reported that 3087 patrolling actions and 1327 enforcement actions, a ballistic vest and a canister of nitrous oxide gas 122 people and identifying others 299 mainly for crimes of theft on agricultural holdings.
The same source, during operation, were realized 3108 information and awareness actions aimed at 13.892 people, with rural communities, in particular among farmers, on measures to prevent criminal offenses, namely about the theft of agricultural products, theft of copper and other non-precious metals, situations of exploitation in the labor context related to Human Trafficking (TSH) and still, for the safe use of agricultural and forestry vehicles.
