Thousands of euros, secrets and a weapon: the searches of the spy
SIS (Strategic Defense Intelligence Service) officials had suspected that Carvalhão Gil worked for the Russians for years. This suspicion led to searches of the alleged spy's homes, where evidence was found that exceeded the worst fears of the Portuguese authorities.
Among the items discovered during the searches were thousands of euros in cash, secrets and a weapon. The authorities believe that Carvalhão Gil passed sensitive information to Russian agents over a long period of time.
The evidence found during the searches forced profound changes in the functioning of Portuguese intelligence services. The case exposed serious vulnerabilities in the country's security and counterintelligence mechanisms.
This episode represents one of the biggest espionage scandals in Portugal's recent history, with significant implications for diplomatic relations and for trust in state institutions.
