2023-06-15 15:40:39
Portuguese police carried out a huge crackdown on Monday once morest a human trafficking network in a training center in the north of the country. Forty-seven young footballers were rescued, including 36 minors from Africa, Asia and South America. The latter were placed in institutions, under the “state protection”according to the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF).
According to local media, the victims were held captive in the premises of the Bsports academy, in Riba d’Ave, near Vila Nova de Famalicão. Players should testify before a judge before returning to their home country.
Two Portuguese and five companies were indicted as part of this operation, called “El Dourado”, during which several passports and residence permits were seized. One of the people indicted is Mario Costa, one of the managers of the Bsports academy and president of the general assembly of the Portuguese football league.
The latter resigned from his post on Wednesday, saying in passing that he had not committed any illegality. According to Publictaken back by ReleaseMario Costa was followed for irregularities in the operation of the academy, whose objective is to ensure the school and sports training of young people from different continents.
Portugal’s Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Joao Paulo Correia, called the illegal recruitment of footballers a“unacceptable and shocking”assuring that the government would ” take measures “ to combat this type of human trafficking.
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