Published : 09 Aug 2026, 04:18 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:31 AM
Portugal’s Judiciary Police (PJ) have arrested two Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly kidnapping a foreign national and torturing them to demand a ransom in the country’s capital of Lisbon.
The operation to apprehend the two was codenamed “Taka” after Bangladesh’s currency. The arrested men are aged 35 and 43; however, their names have not been released.
On Jun 27, the two approached the 33-year-old victim on the street and took him to a second location under threat and coercion, according to local media outlet Jornal de Notícias.
“From that point onwards and for two days, the man was taken between different locations, kept restrained and deprived of his freedom throughout, while being repeatedly assaulted, threatened, and subjected to abuse. At the same time, a large sum of money was demanded as a ransom for his release,” the PJ said.
According to local media reports, the victim was released after the ransom was paid and had to later seek medical treatment for the physical abuse.
He eventually reported the incident to police.
The National Counter-Terrorism Unit (UNCT) then launched an investigation. The two Bangladeshis were arrested after being identified.
The suspects will be brought before the relevant judicial authority for a preliminary hearing, where the issue of precautionary measures against them will be considered.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office at Lisbon’s Department of Investigation and Prosecution is now in charge of the investigation.
