In a statement, the PJ explains that the women are suspected of committing crimes of qualified fraud, document forgery and money laundering in the real estate sector.

The crimes, committed in the Algarve region, are believed to have harmed more than two dozen people.

The "Turnkey" operation resulted from an investigation into the illegal activity of a real estate businesswoman, who, online, for at least a year, promoted the sale of properties in the Algarve, essentially to foreign investors, without the knowledge of the owners, who were surprised by the existence of provisional sales records for their properties.

This woman entered into contracts promising to buy and sell the properties in question in solicitors' offices in the Algarve region or through documents authenticated by them, without the knowledge or intervention of the property owners.

The PJ said that there were buyers who handed over amounts exceeding one million euros to this businesswoman, corresponding to the value of the respective deposit, amounts of which the suspect appropriated.

During the operation, three house searches and four searches were carried out at solicitors' offices, during which a “large collection of documentary evidence”, computer equipment, cash and jewellery were seized.

The PJ admits the existence of other victims, since during the operation documents relating to businesses still unknown to the investigation were located, “and attempts to contact alleged clients were also noted”.

According to the Judiciary, new complaints have been filed in recent days for payments of more than two million and seven hundred thousand euros.

The “Turnkey” operation was developed by the Portimão Criminal Investigation Department, with the collaboration of the Southern Directorate.

The investigation, led by the Regional DIAP of Évora, had begun in 2024.