Luís Neves was born on 24 September 1965 in Castelo Branco and graduated in Law from Universidade Lusíada, practicing as a lawyer between 1992 and 1995. In 1995, he joined the Judicial Police (PJ), joining the Central Directorate for Combating Banditry (DCCB), having never declared any party affiliation. His police career was marked by a silent pragmatism that prioritised operational effectiveness over media exposure.
Between 2009 and 2018, he commanded the National Counter-Terrorism Unit (UNCT), a period during which he dismantled violent far-right cells, halted ATM robbery groups using explosives and was involved in neutralising the logistics base of the terrorist organisation ETA in Óbidos. His technical authority became respected by international counterparts, consolidating his name in police circles.
In 2018, he took over the top leadership of the PJ as National Director. Under his stewardship, the force faced complex cases, including the international hunt for and location of banker João Rendeiro in South Africa, the Tancos weapons theft dossier and Rui Pinto's Football Leaks case.
In February 2026, he was called to the XXV Constitutional Government as Minister of Internal Administration, transitioning from interrogation rooms to ministerial corridors. In his new role, he faces challenges such as salary claims from security forces, logistical shortages in the PSP and GNR, and the urgency of responses to transnational crime.
