"We continue to assign personnel there, to avoid vandalism" of the facilities, said Hilário Dionísio Peixeiro, an army colonel and commander of the Paratroopers Regiment told parliament’s committee of Inquiry into the 2017 theft.

The theft of grenades, explosives and ammunition from the Tancos stores was reported on 29 June 2017. Most of the materiel was later recovered, in a process that is currently under investigation by police, in addition to the original theft.

After the theft, the armed forces decided to remove all military equipment from Tancos, distributing it among other units, the colonel said.

Asked by Carla Barros, a Social Democrat deputy, about whether what happened in 2017 would be possible today, he answered in broad terms: "God willing, we would not let [that happen], we do everything possible for it not to happen."

After the theft, he revealed, he received instructions "to double the staff [on duty] and ensure that the weapons had ammunition available", in contrast with what had been the case until then. It was reported that patrols at the base at the time of the theft had no live ammunition in their weapons.

The case saw major developments during 2018, with the detention of seven members of the Military Police (PJM) and National Guard (GNR) who are suspected of having faked the recovery of the materiel in connivence with the presumed thief.