The articles written by the PÚBLICO Brasil team are written in the variant of the Portuguese language used in Brazil.
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The Public Security Police (PSP) of Portugal issues a general warning about the use by national and foreign citizens, especially those who use the country’s airport terminals, about the use of taxis and transport through suspicious apps. They treat it as “illegal passenger recruitment” and are attentive to the movements of these irregular transporters, who are known to the police.
By email, the National Directorate of the PSP sent PÚBLICO Brasil the guidelines and findings on the illicit activities committed by illegal people, in view of the recent cases of violence, extortion and disappearance of objects in vehicles, published by the newspaper.
However, the PSP informs that it already knows the drivers involved in the cases revealed, stating that “the majority of individuals who engage in this practice are well known to the Police”. However, it characterizes the harassment of customers as an administrative offense (infraction subject to a fine) and not a crime, “which limits the Police’s ability to act”.
In the text sent to the newspaper, the security force highlights that “only in flagrante delicto” is it possible to take any action. According to the institution’s press office, “these individuals cannot be expelled from airports just for engaging in this illicit practice.”
According to the document, “the first and main advice” is to register the complaint at a PSP Police Station. The institution assures that “it is monitoring the phenomenon of illegal recruitment for passenger transport services by suspicious people”.
The police claim that these irregularities do not only occur in Portugal. According to a police assessment, the practice consists of approaching potential customers, who are enticed by offering lower prices than those charged by taxis and app vehicles for transporting passengers.
Literally, the PSP document notes that “the suspects claim to be professionals legally qualified to perform the service, either through TVDE platforms or through taxi services”. He adds that “irregulars deceive users by justifying that they are duly accredited to transport passengers, almost always charging amounts that are not stipulated in any legal document.”
The Police even detail the situations experienced by the victims in some episodes: “When they arrive at their destination, they are confronted with values that are completely different from those agreed upon”. He admits that “victims suffer fraud, extortion or speculation, depending on the case, practices that constitute a crime”, he reinforces.
He admits that crimes are difficult to prove, but that the PSP has adopted police tactics and techniques that, “within the current legal framework, best suit the reality determined at each moment”. This is an illegal practice that has been occurring in several European airports, so passengers should be alert in case they are approached by strangers offering cheaper transport.
