A new search operation has begun in Portugal as part of the long-running investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, who vanished nearly two decades ago.

Madeleine was just three years old when she disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve, on 3 May 2007. Her case became one of the most high-profile missing person investigations in the world.

Portuguese police confirmed on Monday that the current search effort—initiated at the request of German prosecutors—is focused on 21 separate plots of land located between the Ocean Club resort, where Madeleine was last seen, and a location linked to the main suspect in the case.

The search area, in the municipality of Lagos near Praia da Luz, includes scrubland and disused buildings close to the coast. Roads have been closed off since Monday, and a large blue tent has been erected at the site. Crews have been clearing vegetation and examining well-like structures.

On Tuesday morning, a Portuguese fire engine and four German police vehicles arrived at the site, which is approximately 3.5 miles from where Madeleine disappeared. Around 30 German officers are expected to participate in the operation, which is scheduled to run through Friday.

This search comes amid ongoing efforts by German investigators, who in 2020 named Christian Brückner, a 48-year-old German national, as the prime suspect. He is currently serving a prison sentence in Germany for the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old woman in Portugal.

Brückner, who lived in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017, has denied any involvement in Madeleine’s disappearance. However, German authorities suspect him of murder and are working to build a case. They are concerned that if he is not charged before his scheduled release—possibly delayed until 2026 due to an unpaid fine—he may evade justice.

Portuguese authorities have also formally identified Brückner as a suspect, or arguido, and confirmed they will pass any new evidence to their German counterparts.

The UK’s Metropolitan Police, which continues its own investigation under Operation Grange, has said it is aware of the latest developments.

It’s unclear whether the current search is based on new intelligence or is part of a final effort to examine areas of interest. German police have been granted European warrants to conduct searches on private land with Portuguese approval.

The previous search, conducted two years ago, focused on a reservoir where Brückner was known to have spent time. He was also linked to the Ocean Club resort through mobile phone data and evidence that he occasionally worked there as a handyman.

Madeleine’s parents recently marked 18 years since her disappearance, stating their commitment to continue searching for answers remains unwavering.