According to the same source, these administrative offence proceedings were based on 230 reports drawn up by the PSP in 2025 regarding this illicit activity.

This was questioned by the Lusa news agency after a report by the NOW channel revealed an organised illegal network of "candongueiros" wrapping bags at Lisbon Airport, engaging in unfair and illegal competition with the only company certified for this purpose at that airport (Safe Bag).

ANAC [the National Civil Aviation Authority] states that, based on reports filed by the PSP at Lisbon airport, 82 administrative offence proceedings have been initiated against these offenders, some of which contain multiple reports.

In response to questions from Lusa [the Portuguese news agency], ANAC confirmed receipt of the 230 reports mentioned by the PSP, explaining that 130 relate to the exercise of illegal commercial activity without authorisation from the competent authorities, involving 'candongueiros'.

Illegal taxi drivers

According to the same entity, "the remaining 100 fines also relate to illegal activity, but in the context of soliciting clients for transportation by vehicle."

The same entity emphasises that these administrative offence proceedings also result from PSP reports from 2024, just as proceedings will be initiated this year for acts committed in 2025.

When questioned about the amounts of the fines, ANAC (National Civil Aviation Authority) refers to the law, stating that serious offenses are punished with a minimum fine of 250 euros and a maximum of €500 in cases of negligence, and with a minimum fine of 500 euros and a maximum of €1,500 in cases of intent, as it involves an individual, adding that in 2025 "it applied fines totalling €53,000 to these offenders."

ANAC adds that, together with the other entities [PSP and ANA], it has been considering other, more robust forms of action and has already submitted a proposal to the Government to amend the Civil Aviation Administrative Offences Regime.

"To mitigate this problem," it also proposes an additional sanction of "prohibition of access to and presence in public spaces of airport infrastructures for a maximum of two years."

That entity admits that "the instruments of action provided for in the current legal framework are insufficient to solve this problem, because despite all the efforts by the supervisory bodies, the various notices existing in the infrastructure prohibiting the exercise of commercial activity without authorization, despite the existing sanctioning processes, and the notifications made, including those carried out personally by the PSP (Public Security Police) within the scope of the administrative offense proceedings, it has not been observed that this has dissuaded offenders from practicing the activity."