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21st March 2022
02:23pm GMT
Since it began, the operation is said to have cost an estimated £12.5 million. It was initially set up by Theresa May, who was the Home Secretary at the time. When it launched, the team was comprised of 29 detectives and eight civilians.
Over the years, Operation Grange has translated tens of thousands of documents, produced age-processed imagery of Madeleine, and conducted investigations into over 8,000 possible sightings.
Three years after the launch of the operation, the group had taken over 1,000 statements, collected over 1,000 exhibits, and investigated 60 persons of interest and more than 600 sex offenders.
Last year, Scotland Yard gave it an additional £350,000 to look into new inquiry lines; now it seems that it will be coming to a close soon.
A source told The Sun that the end of 'Operation Grange' is "now in sight", adding that "the team’s work is expected to be completed by autumn. There are currently no plans to take the inquiry any further."
Despite it looking like the joint police effort will finish this year, Madeleine's parents - Kate and Gerry McCann - have vowed to continue searching for their daughter.
This year will mark 15 years since her disappearance. The Metropolitan Police are still treating it as a missing person's case while German authorities believe Maddie was unfortunately killed, identifying Christian Brueckner a lead suspect in 2020, who is currently serving a sentence in prison.
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