Portugal’s Public Security Police (PSP) is being forced to return a luxury Ferrari sports car they had seized and used for public relations, after a court ruled it was not linked to criminal activity.
The high-profile vehicle, a Ferrari 488 GTB, was painted in police colors, adorned with institutional decals, and prominently featured in public events as one of the force’s most recognizable assets. This public display occurred despite an ongoing investigation into the car’s connection to alleged drug trafficking.
A judicial decision has now ordered the immediate return of the vehicle to its legitimate owner. The court found that the individual driving the car at the time of its seizure was not its owner.
Furthermore, the court concluded there was no evidence the Ferrari was used in drug trafficking or any other criminal activity. Legal requirements for the state to permanently confiscate the asset were also not met.
The car was initially seized in September 2023, when an individual under investigation for drug trafficking was intercepted driving it. Initial suspicions arose because the vehicle had a provisional license plate and insurance registered in the driver’s name.
Legal experts suggest that the police’s decision to use the Ferrari for promotional purposes before a definitive judicial ruling highlights the need for clearer guidelines on managing assets during criminal investigations.