General Directorate for Security


The General Directorate of Security or DGS was a Portuguese criminal police body between 1969 and 1974.
Although their duties include, in addition to state security, the supervision of foreigners, border control, and the fight against illegal trafficking of migrants, historically the DGS was essentially a secret police responsible for repression and without judicial control, of all forms of political opposition to the Estado Novo.
The DGS was created in 1969 to succeed to the International and State Defense Police, by Decree-Law no. 49 401, of November 24, 1969, of the government of Marcello Caetano.
It was disbanded in the continent and islands in 1974, following the Revolution of April 25, by Decree-Law no. 171/74 of April 25. In overseas territories it continued to exist until 1975, with the designation of "Military Intelligence Police".

Organisation

In 1974, the General Directorate for Security was organized as follows: