Operation Picoas: Altice Sought iPhone Deal with Defendant's Company Amid Ongoing Investigation

With the six-month deadline set by the Attorney General’s Office approaching, defendants Armando Pereira and Hernâni Vaz Antunes are urging closure of the long-running Operation Picoas investigation. Their lawyers claim that little progress has been made since searches in July 2023.

They also reveal that in December 2024, Meo contacted Onerepair—part of the HVA Group—to purchase 50 refurbished iPhones, despite the group’s ties to the defendants. Although the deal fell through due to unpaid debts, the defense argues this contact suggests Altice validated its past dealings with the HVA Group after its internal audit.

Operation Picoas centers on alleged corruption, tax fraud, and misuse of Madeira’s tax regime, with estimated state losses exceeding €100 million.