Manuel Homem, who was speaking at the handover ceremony, called on the Criminal Investigation Service to pay special attention to preventing and combating fuel smuggling, stating that it "threatens the national economy and, more than that, puts national security at risk".
"Fuel smuggling is, in our understanding, used by criminals as a source of financing for other illicit activities, which put public security at risk and, if not stopped in time, will end up taking on more dangerous forms for the nation", said Manuel Homem.
The Minister of the Interior also stressed that, in order to restore the dignity of the institutions, "it is urgent to change the framework of reports that tarnish the good name of the Criminal Investigation Service, holding those whose attitudes are not in accordance with the principles of transparency, honesty, humanization and service provision to exemplary responsibility, in accordance with the law, with priority given to promoting human dignity".
According to Manuel Homem, the Ministry of the Interior will maintain and intensify the mechanisms to repress the illegal trafficking of diamonds and other national treasures, including illegal logging.
"Many of these activities are carried out by organised groups, involving national and foreign citizens, who use shell companies to launder money and money laundering", he accused, regretting that many of the criminal networks rely on the collaboration of community agents, whose mission was to repress and defend the interests of the State.
"We also have the challenge of combating illegal immigration and protecting our borders, a task that we intend to see strengthened at the level of the Immigration Service for Foreigners, which should also ensure the provision of differentiated, transparent and efficient public services, ensuring the rights of citizens in accessing services", he declared.
To the National Police officers, Manuel Homem highlighted that "the use of force is one of the foundations of police work", but there are "non-lethal mechanisms that, if applied, produce the same results", urging officers not to let their guard down in the fight against crime, to avoid "a perception of insecurity" in society.
According to the Minister of the Interior, the National Police officers "have been exemplary in fulfilling their task of protecting citizens and ensuring security", declaring that they must be "honored and cherished".
Manuel Homem said that he will pay attention to the modernization and humanization of services, ensuring that the essential human and material resources are available to the institutions to carry out their tasks.
Among the priorities, Manuel Homem mentioned the prevention and fight against organized crime, drug trafficking and related crimes, the extension of the video surveillance system to the entire country, the modernization of the public security system, the reduction of road accident rates, the restoration of the authority of the State, with special attention given to the Border Guard Police and the Maritime Police.
He also intends to pay special attention to policies to encourage tourism and attract foreign investment, ensuring a modernized and safer service, and humanized conditions in the Penitentiary Service, with emphasis on overcrowding.
