19 of the 22 Moroccan migrants who were staying in a guesthouse in São Pedro do Sul, in the district of Viseu, fled Portugal after being released after the 60-day period allowed by the law on foreigners for retention in temporary reception centers, managed by the PSP, had expired.
The migrants were now in the care of Social Security, having stayed in guesthouses in São Pedro do Sul, in the district of Viseu, and Portimão, in the district of Faro.
A CNN Portugal showed images of the moment when a man, suspected of belonging to a human trafficking network, approached the group while following a high-powered car with Spanish registration.
The conversation took place about 200 meters from the inn where they were staying and where they were awaiting a decision from the Portuguese courts to find out whether they would be deported or could stay in Portugal.
The escape was carried out using several cars coming from Spain, with the first migrants leaving the country on the night of Tuesday, October 7th.
According to CNN Portugalanother 12 migrants who belonged to the group of 38 people who washed up on the Algarve coast in August, and who were staying in a guesthouse in Portimão, also fled.
The court had ordered the expulsion of these people to their country of origin, but the decision on appeals was awaited. Only one of the migrants did not appeal and has already returned to Morocco.
A group of 38 people – made up of 25 men, six women and seven minors, all Moroccan – arrived at Boca do Rio beach, in the parish of Burgau, in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, in a wooden boat, at 8:05 pm on August 8.
At the time, the migrants were detained and accommodated in a temporary installation center, until the process of returning to their country was completed, which could be done voluntarily or coercively.