Man in Portugal Tried to Sell Stolen NATO Data to Russian Embassy

In Portugal, a man has been charged with attempted espionage after allegedly trying to sell stolen information from a NATO service member’s computer and iPad to Russia.

Portugal’s Office of the Prosecutor General announced this on Wednesday, CNN Portugal reported.

The 23-year-old suspect is currently being held in custody.

The incident occurred last year, when a man involved in theft learned about the planned military conference, REP (MUS), at the Naval Base School “Alfeite” in Almada, from February 3 to 7.

According to the investigation, the suspect deliberately stayed at the same hotel where NATO military personnel participating in the “largest event in the world dedicated to the testing of unmanned robotic systems” were accommodated.

About 300 people were present, most of whom were military personnel from NATO countries.

As the Portuguese Public Prosecutor’s Office clarified, at that hotel, the suspect took possession of a computer and an iPad tablet belonging to NATO and the Swedish Navy. They had been assigned to an alliance military officer.

“Believing that he had secret and classified materials at his disposal, he attempted to gain access to their contents and copy them, and also intended to cooperate with Russia, but did not succeed,” the investigators added.

Having obtained the stolen information, the young man contacted the Russian Embassy in Lisbon in an attempt to sell it, but unsuccessfully.

Spy in another NATO country

In February, a 54-year-old Air Force colonel was detained in Greece on suspicion of spying for China.

The alleged spy was considered one of Greece’s top experts in electronic systems; in particular, he participated in the modernization of Patriot systems and the development of reconnaissance aircraft.