en 
The operations took place with "a special focus on the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina", says the Territorial Command of the National Republican Guard (GNR) of Faro, in a statement.
"During the inspection actions, 80 infractions were detected for overnight stays and illegal parking in unauthorised locations and three infraction notices were drawn up for drug consumption", highlights the note.
The GNR warns that "illegal or irregular camping and caravanning in a protected area can lead to an excessive and disorderly occupation of public spaces and coastal areas", thus having "negative consequences on the landscape, the environment, spatial planning and public health".
The GNR encourages "motorhomers and campers to adopt responsible and environmentally friendly behaviour".
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Excuse to push campers into antiquated ,substandard ,overpriced , camp sites that people not surprisingly do not want to go to .
By John from Alentejo on 20 Sep 2023, 11:41
Not at all John. If they park in the correct places they can park for free. They are not allowed in protected areas and I'm happy about that. I walk many places in the Algarve and have to walk past their toilet paper and poo. There are plenty of camping places in Portugal for free. Do your research
By Bradley Hardaker from Algarve on 20 Sep 2023, 17:01
Be a motorhome myself I don’t blame the GNR one bit. It’s a known fact the west coast is a difficult place to park as it is mainly environmentally protected. Most motorhomers are very conscientious and some even collect rubbish left by non motorhomers but only stay in authorised places and yes there is a lot of free places to Stay. However the official motorhome type campsites are not expensive , I would say they are generally half the cost of the English ones.
By Peter from Algarve on 21 Sep 2023, 12:35
I agree wholeheartedly Bradley. John seems to have a skewed view of this. There are rules. The rules are provided for good reasons, including that they provide a framework for us all to be able to get along well together and that our situation does not degenerate into one where a minority of people become self-entitled and selfish and make life worse for others and eventually giving rise to anarchy, such as exists in other places I have lived. This is Portugal, those are Portugal's rules. If those campers don't like the campsites provided, then they should go camp in other countries.
There are many magnificent beaches and camping locations in The Algarve. The nearest beach to me has an associated large (seemingly informal) camping area where, as you have experienced Bradley, an almost unlimited mess of poo and poo paper. It's an eyesore and shocking. More inspections please! More arrests and more heavy fines, I say.
By Martin Richards from Algarve on 21 Sep 2023, 13:34
Well we have endured another summer of entitled camper vans that have parked wherever they want.
They leave their rubbish especially excrement stained loo paper everywhere along our once pristine coastline.
It is high time the GNR/Police actually did their job and enforced the laws.
By James from Algarve on 22 Sep 2023, 06:55
Agree with the comments re the anarchistic "wild campers" who decide they will "own" an area to the exclusion of everyone else. Here in Ericeira we have a fabulous well serviced camp ground...but no, the "excretors" just park where they like, leave all their waste, human and otherwise all over the place and drive off, leaving a previous pristine area like a waste dump. Yes, lock them up.
By Bruce from Lisbon on 22 Sep 2023, 08:20
We toured New Zealand south island (in a campervan), some years ago. There´s no way a tourist would leave a mess behind, out there. In three weeks, I never saw so much as ONE cigarette butt on the floor. No gates hanging off their hinges. All property fences maintained. Camping grounds, park - like.
Tidiness, begins with the country´s citizens.
By Steve. from Algarve on 23 Sep 2023, 15:49