These cliffs hide the strip of gorse scrubland which runs east to the larger resort of Lagos, and are dotted with derelict, abandoned agricultural buildings and houses, marked with missing roofs and chipped plaster.

The 3-year-old girl's 2007 disappearance sparked one of the most publicized missing-person investigations in British history. The case is open again.

Portugal’s main national criminal investigation agency said the operation was prompted by a legal order issued by German authorities who are investigating a German man in the case.