Three men were arrested in flagrante delicto harvesting carob on two plots of land in the municipality of Albufeira, one in Olhos de Água and the other in Paderne.
In one of the cases, GNR soldiers patrolling the Olhos de Água area, as part of Operation “Campo Seguro 2022”, detected a 31-year-old man, on agricultural land, picking carob.
After approaching him, they found that "the suspect did not have any authorization from the owner of the land to proceed with the collection, having been arrested in the act for stealing carob".
Two bags with 27 kilos of carob were seized, which were delivered to the rightful owner.
On another occasion, this time in Paderne, the arrest took place following a complaint. After the alert, "the Guard's soldiers quickly moved to the scene, having surprised the two suspects, aged 19 and 29, in the act".
The two suspects still tried to flee the scene, but were eventually caught and arrested.
In this case, 30 kilos of carob, an awning for harvesting this fruit, 14 sacks of burlap, two buckets and a vehicle were seized.
In both cases, the facts were reported to the Albufeira Judicial Court.
The GNR emphasizes that it has “strengthened policing and supervision in relation to the harvesting and trading of carob beans during this period in the Algarve area, with the aim of deterring and repressing the practice of carob theft”.
In this way, and also within the scope of the “Campo Seguro 2022” operation, this security force has been carrying out patrolling, awareness-raising and inspection actions, since July 4th, «with the aim of preventing crimes of theft, near properties /farms, as well as to strengthen policing to deter and suppress the practice of theft in agricultural fields'.
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