On 28 June 2017, an arms theft at a military base in Tancos, Portugal was discovered. The stolen weapons reportedly included 1,450 9 mm caliber cartridges, 150 hand grenades, 44 anti-tank grenades, 18 tear gas grenades, 264 units of plastic explosives, and 102 explosive charges.[1][2] Following an anonymous tip-off, some of the weapons were found in Chamusca on 18 October 2017.[3]

An investigation into the recovery of the weapons led to the September 2018 arrests of six military officials from the National Republican Guard and the Military Judicial Police (PJM), including the head of the PJM,[4] Coronel Luís Augusto Vieira.[5] Amid accusations of a military cover-up of the arms theft, Minister of National Defence José Alberto Azeredo Lopes resigned on 12 October 2018. Azeredo Lopes has denied any involvement in the alleged cover-up.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Portuguese president speaks out over stolen weapons arsenal". BBC News. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  2. ↑ Jones, Sam (3 July 2017). "Grenades and plastic explosives stolen from Portuguese arsenal". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "PJ police recover arsenal of weapons stolen from army base". The Portugal News. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  4. ↑ Matamoros, Cristina Abellan (26 September 2018). "Portugal's military police chief accused of cover up over massive arms theft". Euronews. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Head of Loulé GNR arrested by PJ police". The Portugal News. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "Portugal defense minister quits amid probe of theft cover-up". Reuters. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.


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