Guarda Nacional Republicana officers detained six men aged between 20 and 53 during an inspection operation at two food and beverage establishments in the municipality of Trofa on 7 November 2026.[1][2][3] The operation was carried out by the Porto Territorial Command through the Trofa Territorial Post, with one man detained at a café in Guidões and the other five detained at a café in the parish of Muro.[1][2] The inspection was carried out at food and beverage establishments in the union of parishes of Bougado.[2] The action was reinforced by the Intervention Detachment of the Porto Territorial Command.[4]

Authorities stated the detentions were based on suspicions of operating illegal gambling, being present at an illegal gambling venue, and playing illegal gambling.[1][5][6][7][3] The operation resulted in eight administrative offence notices drawn up for infractions of various natures.[4][5][6][7][2][3] During the inspections, officers seized four games of chance gambling machines, a scale, three knives, two doses of liamba and two doses of hashish.[1][5][6][7][2][3]

The six men were made arguidos, formal suspects under Portuguese law, and the facts were referred to the Judicial Court of the Comarca of Santo Tirso.[1][5][6][3] The GNR stated that operations against illegal gambling are intended to prevent crime linked to addiction, indebtedness and family breakdown.[1][7]