Portuguese police raided the official residence of socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa as part of an investigation into alleged corruption. According to local media, records were also investigated in the Ministries of Environment and Climate Transition and Infrastructure.
The investigation is related to lithium exploration projects in Montalegre (a municipality in the north of the country) and also involves alleged crimes in the green hydrogen business.
Vítor Escaria, Costa's chief of staff, has been arrested following the operation. Costa's advisor, Diogo Lacerda Machado; the mayor of Sines, the socialist Nuno Mascarenhas; as well as two directors of a company related to the case have also been arrested.
According to reports, more searches are expected in the coming hours related to this investigation. "The operation is due to an investigation into the lithium business in Montalegre, and was prepared between the DCIAP and the PSP in absolute secrecy for fear of leaks of information involving members of the Government," explained Público .
"At the beginning of January, the Attorney General's Office had confirmed that an investigation was being carried out in the DCIAP (Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action), under judicial secrecy, on the so-called lithium and green hydrogen business," reported the media.
