Two men of foreign nationality, aged 23 and 24, were arrested during the early hours of today, August 7, for attempting to steal high-speed craft (EAV) from the mooring pier of the Vila Real Coastal Control Subdetachment of Santo Antonio.
In a statement, the Coastal Control Unit of the GNR says there are "strong suspicions" of the relationship between the two detainees "with other similar situations, related to the theft of boats belonging to the security forces at the pier".
Since the beginning of 2023, «the GNR has detected three attempts to steal vessels, with three arrests having been made».
Now, he stresses, «these attempts at theft are largely related to the intervention of the UCC in the fight against international criminal networks of narcotics by sea and that, since the beginning of the year, allowed the seizure of six EAV [from traffickers] and about five tons of hashish».
In this case, «the two hooded suspects were detected at 04:00 am by soldiers from the Maritime Team of the Vila Real de Santo António Coastal Control Subdetachment, when they entered the mooring pier, circumventing the fence and immediately heading towards two vessels , used for patrolling and interception'.
Equipped with tools, the two men «immediately began to work on the engines and ignition guns, in order to put them into operation, with the aim of stealing maritime resources at the service of the GNR».
However, they were caught thanks to the quick intervention of the UCC military. One of the suspects even tried to swim away, but ended up being caught "shortly afterwards, still close to the pier".
The two men remain in custody and will be present at the Vila Real de Santo António Judicial Court.
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