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Portugal – Counterterrorism Unit thwart Lisbon casino kidnappers
By Phil - 11 November 2015Portugal’s National Counterterrorism Unit has arrested six gang members who carried out at least a dozen armed kidnappings on casino customers leaving Estoril and Lisboa casinos.
Aged between 23 and 29 years, most with a history of petty crimes and all from Lisbon, the group is suspected of kidnapping, aggravated robbery, injury and criminal association.
They followed their victims attacking them either on their way home or once they had reached their abodes.
At least one of the victims was known to have won a significant jackpot in Grand Lisboa before being targeted. The gang is thought to have carried out its first crime in May on a Chinese man, followed after playing in the Estoril Casino to home.
The Counterterrorism Unit carried out ‘Operation Casino Royal’ which required more than two dozen search warrants and six arrest warrants. They believe that more victims may now come forward.