The Public Security Police report that the number of foreign citizens inspected increased by 80% in January compared to those inspected during the whole of 2024, with the number of operations also increasing by 50%.

“The January balance represents, compared to the whole of 2024, more than 50% in terms of the actions carried out and more than 80% in terms of the number of third-country citizens inspected, as a result of the PSP's commitment to training and gradual activation, at a national level, of specialised teams dedicated to these inspection and monitoring activities”, said the police force in a statement.

The PSP states that, in January, through the activity of the foreigners and border control units coordinated by the Inspection Unit of the Department of Integrated Border Management, it carried out 270 police operations and inspected 3,906 foreign citizens in the country.

According to the police, these operations resulted in 29 arrests for illegal status and document forgery, 14 notifications of voluntary abandonment of the country, 94 citizens detected with pending proceedings, such as arrest warrants and entry bans into European territory, and 195 infraction reports under the Foreigners Law.

These inspection and monitoring operations of foreign citizens in the country are included in the PSP's responsibilities in terms of airport security and border and foreigner control.

In addition to monitoring foreign citizens who are in the PSP's area of ​​responsibility, urban centres, the PSP is also responsible for border control at the airports in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, S. Miguel, Terceira, Porto Santo, Santa Maria and Beja, as well as at the Tires and Horta airfields, which are not considered air border posts.