Authorities conclude search for Maddie McCann evidence in Portugal

Portuguese and German police are concluding their latest search for evidence in Portugal’s southern Algarve region, connected to the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann 18 years ago.

As the operation wrapped up, there were no immediate updates on its outcome. Vehicles, including vans with German license plates and a Portuguese police car, were seen departing from one of the search locations in Atalaia, a neighbourhood in the municipality of Lagos.

A source close to the operation confirmed that the search covered “dozens of hectares” and included derelict buildings, wells, and reservoirs.

The renewed effort is part of a European Investigation Order requested by prosecutors in Braunschweig, Germany, and executed by Portugal’s Judicial Police. Authorities stated that a series of search warrants would be carried out between June 2 and 6 across the Lagos municipality. Any evidence recovered will be handed over to Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).

News of the renewed searches comes as a major step forward in the long-running mystery, the most recent development came in 2023 when investigators announced they were conducting searches at a reservoir located inland from where Maddie went missing.

Portugal’s Judicial Police released a statement at the time confirming the search efforts were underway.

“In view of the news made public, the Judiciary Police confirms that, regarding the investigation into the disappearance of an English child, which occurred in the Algarve in 2007, steps are still being taken to fully clarify the situation,” the statement read.

“Within the scope of international cooperation, in the next few days in the Algarve region, new searches will be carried out, coordinated by the Judiciary Police, at the request of the German Authorities (BKA) and with the presence of the British Authorities.

“Information will be provided in due course on the outcome of the proceedings.”

Unfortunately, the operation yielded no new evidence.

Maddie disappeared from her bed at a resort in Praia da Luz on the evening of May 3, 2007. Her disappearance sparked a global media frenzy and became one of the most high-profile missing person cases in recent history.

Despite years of investigations spanning multiple countries, her whereabouts remain unknown.

Read more: Heartbreaking milestone: Madeleine McCann’s parents deliver emotional message on her 21st birthday

-with Reuters.