Nine defendants accused of drug trafficking await judgment in Vila Real

O Vila Real Court marked for December 11 the reading of the judgment of nine defendants, between the ages of 27 and 53, who are accused of aggravated drug trafficking crime.

The defendants are accused by the Public Prosecutor (MP) of belonging to an organized network that, at least, since January 2023 and until November 2024, will have sold drugs in various areas of the center and north of the country.

Among the accused are the alleged heads of the network, a 30-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, who sold the drug from a garage in Matosinhos, and a 49-year-old teacher from Vila Real.

The trial, by a collective of judges, began on September 10 and, as the source of the Vila Real Court said today, the reading of the judgment is scheduled for December 11.

The alleged network was dismantled by the GNR of Vila Real in November 2024 and, according to it was released at the time, some of the sales took place with schools and several municipalities in the North region.

During the operation that culminated in the arrests, drugs were seized with an estimated market value of EUR 70,000.

According to the MP, the network is organized from the couple who were selling drugs, such as cannabis, cocaine, LSD and MDMA, to several dealers who, in turn, acted as intermediaries, were selling drugs to other dealers and to several consumers.

The nine are charged with the aggravated drug trafficking crime.

Six of the defendants are in protective custody.