Beja, Portugal, Feb. 11, 2026 (lusa) - The Portuguese public prosecutor's office on Wednesday called for the conviction of more than 30 defendants, including 22 individuals, who are on trial in Beja for allegedly exploiting immigrants in the country's Alentejo region.
The trial, which began on 15 December last year, initially involved 35 official suspects, including 22 individuals and 13 companies, but in the first session, one of the commercial companies was separated for a separate trial.
At this morning's session, two of the official suspects who wished to testify were heard, and then the closing arguments began, which will continue this afternoon from 2:40 p.m.
The public prosecutor's office, represented by two prosecutors, considered that all the defendants should be convicted, based on the evidence in the case file and presented during the trial.
It argued that the panel of judges hearing the case should take into account the statements made by the defendants and victims at the time of their arrests.
This is one of the cases resulting from the so-called "Operation Mirror" by the Judicial Police (the country's main criminal investigation agency), carried out in November 2023 and related to the alleged exploitation of dozens of immigrant workers on farms in Alentejo.
According to the indictments and charges, consulted by the Lusa news agency, most of the defendants are charged with crimes related to human trafficking, criminal association, aiding illegal immigration, association to aid illegal immigration, and money laundering.
There are also defendants accused of document forgery or possession of prohibited weapons.
During the morning session, lawyers for some of the defendants argued, with the rest scheduled for the afternoon, that their clients should be acquitted, arguing that no evidence had been produced during the trial.
The lawyer for one of the defendants assured that there was "not a single witness" who identified the defendant she represents, "nor was any concrete evidence" produced to implicate him in the alleged immigrant exploitation network.
Another lawyer, representing another defendant, criticised the Public Prosecutor's Office for producing "a set of generalities" instead of allegations, considering this case to be “empty” in terms of concrete facts that could constitute crimes.
"There is a complete lack of evidence of facts that could substantiate the typical conduct of the crimes" attributed to the defendants, she asserted.
Of the 22 official suspects, five are Portuguese and the rest are of various foreign nationalities.
In the indictment, the Public Prosecutor's Office alleges that, on a date not specifically determined, but prior to 1 January 2020, the defendants built a network for the entry of illegal immigrants into Portugal, mainly from Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, India, Senegal, Nepal, Timor-Leste and Pakistan, to use them as quasi-forced, low-cost labour.
Although the immigrants were seeking better living conditions, they ended up working on farms and construction sites across the country, "housed in degrading conditions," in "overcrowded, poorly maintained rooms without air conditioning, and charged for accommodation, documents, food, water, electricity, gas, and transport."
Often they received no monthly remuneration for their work, so they could not buy food to survive and meet other needs, which forced them "to beg for food," according to the indictment.
To create a supposed appearance of legality, the defendants set up commercial companies.
RRL/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
