Chapter IX · Criminal provisions

Article 189 Forfeiture of objects

Artigo 189.º · Perda de objectos

Lei n.º 23/2007, de 4 de julho (Lei de Estrangeiros) · consolidated text, as amended by Law No. 62/2026, checked 26 October 2026

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1. Objects seized by the Criminal Police (PJ) that are declared forfeited to the State shall be allocated to the PJ where:

1 - Os objetos apreendidos pela PJ que venham a ser declarados perdidos a favor do Estado são-lhe afetos quando:

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a) They are documents, weapons, ammunition, vehicles, telecommunications and IT equipment or other items of interest to the institution;

a) Se trate de documentos, armas, munições, veículos, equipamentos de telecomunicações e de informática ou outro com interesse para a instituição;

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b) They result from compliance with international conventions and are related to illegal immigration.

b) Resultem do cumprimento de convenções internacionais e estejam correlacionados com a imigração ilegal.

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2. The usefulness of the objects referred to in point (a) of the preceding paragraph must be put forward by the PJ in the final report of the respective criminal proceedings.

2 - A utilidade dos objetos a que se refere a alínea a) do número anterior deve ser proposta pela PJ no relatório final do respetivo processo-crime.

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3. The objects referred to in paragraph 1(a) may be used provisionally by the PJ from their seizure until the declaration of forfeiture or restitution, by order (despacho) of the National Director of the PJ, to be communicated to the authority overseeing the proceedings.

3 - Os objetos referidos na alínea a) do n.º 1 podem ser utilizados provisoriamente pela PJ desde a sua apreensão e até à declaração de perda ou de restituição, mediante despacho do diretor nacional da PJ, a transmitir à autoridade que superintende no processo.

What we checked in this article

Verify the two cases in which forfeited objects are allocated to the PJ, the cross-references to paragraph 1(a), and that provisional use requires an order of the National Director of the PJ.

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Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

Applying the law

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