Supreme Court Cancels February 2025 Order to Take Defendants’ Passports
Almost two years after what has been known as Operation Zarco or the Mega Operation, Portugal’s Supreme Court has canceled a decision made in February 2025 by the Lisbon Court of Appeal. That earlier decision had taken the passports of Pedro Calado, the former mayor of Funchal, and businessman Avelino Farinha. After the Supreme Court ruling, the passports were returned.
Calado, Farinha, and another businessman, CustĂłdio Correia, are now only under a Term of Identity and Residence. This is the lightest legal control in Portugal. It means they must give their address to the authorities and show up when they are called.
Zarco Investigation Targets Pedro Calado and Two Businessmen
Prosecutors suspect corruption, tax fraud, and other crimes. The three men were arrested in early 2024 during the investigation.
In February 2025, the Lisbon Court of Appeal agreed with prosecutors who said Calado and Farinha might leave the country. The court pointed to possible links to Angola or Dubai. CustĂłdio Correia was not ordered to hand over his passport at that time.
Supreme Court Judges Issue Decision Dated December 17
The Supreme Court decision was written by judges Vasques Osório, Ernesto Nascimento, and Jorge Gonçalves and dated December 17. The judges said the appeal court did not study the case carefully enough.
They wrote that the facts used by prosecutors were weak and not clear signs of crimes. Because of this, the Supreme Court canceled the stricter rules set by the appeal court.
Defendants Released on February 14, 2024 After Three Weeks Detained
All three men were released on February 14, 2024, after spending three weeks in detention. The investigating judge, Jorge Bernardes de Melo, rejected the request for preventive detention, which is the toughest measure. He said prosecutors had not clearly described any crime.
After the appeal court later tightened the rules, Calado’s lawyer, Paulo Sá e Cunha, criticized the decision:
Talking about a flight risk more than a year after the arrest of the accused is somewhat absurd
He added that there was no sign that Calado had tried to leave Madeira, where he lives and works. With the Supreme Court ruling, the legal controls return to the original decision, while the investigation itself is still ongoing.
Source: Diário de NotĂcias Madeira
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