As top drugs cop in the Algarve, I find it surprising that Amaral hadn't found out a few things about Bruckner already. And that because of this he would surely have a special interest in him .. and watch him more carefully?
From recent reports, it seems that quite a number of people knew that Bruckner was supplying drugs, yet after several years Amaral still didn't know ? Ah well, perhaps he isn't a very good sleuth.
I have wondered about that, Sadie.
Brueckner doesn't appear to have much of a criminal record in Portugal given accounts by his friends of prolific and lucrative wrong doing.
I mean did no-one wonder where the money for the Winnebego came from. Even second hand as Myster thinks it could have been, it represents a big chunk of anyone's budget, not to mention someone's who was allegedly doing odd jobs in exchange for a shower.
I think it is possible Brueckner might have been acting as a police informant and was known to them in that role.
Maybe they couldn't see beyond that role as they built reputations on clearing drug heists with their informant benefiting from a bit of quid pro quo?