Last week’s search in Portugal related to the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann 18 years ago may have uncovered a significant new lead, a former senior police officer has suggested, highlighting one key moment captured on camera. Madeleine vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve, on May 3, 2007. The case has haunted investigators and gripped the public ever since, despite numerous searches and inquiries spanning nearly two decades.

The prime suspect, Christian Brueckner, a German man serving prison time for unrelated crimes, is at the centre of the ongoing investigation. German prosecutors have labelled the case a ‘probable murder,’ but concrete evidence directly linking him to Madeleine’s disappearance remains elusive. Last week’s operation involved a painstaking search in a remote area near Praia da Luz, where police have conducted previous excavations.

Jim Gamble said the celebrations may have indicated a significant discovery (Image: Express/GETTY)

Though official statements on any discoveries have been scarce, footage of officers celebrating at the search’s conclusion has caught public attention.

Jim Gamble, who as head of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command Centre in the United Kingdom until 2010 oversaw the UK review into Madeleine’s case, told Express.co.uk this visible reaction strongly suggests authorities may have uncovered a critical piece of evidence.

He said: “They wouldn’t send 60 officers, forensic experts, earth-penetrating radar, and dig for three days without a clear plan.

“When police are celebrating at the end of a search like this, it usually means they’ve found something worth following up on.

“This kind of reaction is not given lightly. It often signals a breakthrough in what can be a painstaking and methodical process.”

Madeleine McCann disappeared 18 years ago (Image: PA)

Madeleine disappeared while on holiday with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and her two younger. The family’s holiday quickly turned into a global media storm as the search for the missing girl dominated headlines worldwide.

Brueckner has a documented criminal history which includes drug trafficking and sexual offences against minors and was living in the Algarve region at the time Madeleine went missing.

German authorities allege he was involved in her abduction and murder, although he has has consisnently denied the accusations.

The case remains open and active, with investigators routinely reviewing old evidence and pursuing new leads with the latest search is part of those continuing efforts.

Fresh police searches get under way near the spot where Madeleine McCann was last seen (Image: Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)

Kate and Gerry McCann have long campaigned for answers and have expressed hope that this recent search could finally lead to closure after almost two decades of uncertainty.

They have urged anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward and assist the investigation.

If the speculation surrounding the search’s conclusion is accurate, it could mark a significant turning point in a case that has defied resolution for 18 years.

Despite the absence of official confirmation on new findings, the visible enthusiasm of the officers caught on camera has already stirred renewed public interest and speculation.

Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner arrives in court in Germany (Image: Phil Harris)

Madeleine’s disappearance remains one of the most widely followed missing person cases in recent memory. Each new development is met with intense scrutiny from both media and the public.

The McCann family’s resilience throughout this ordeal has kept the case in the spotlight, with widespread calls for justice and answers.

As police investigations continue, all eyes will be on forthcoming official updates that may finally illuminate what happened to Madeleine.

While it is too early to confirm any breakthroughs, the suggestion by the former senior police officer that something significant may have emerged gives cautious hope that the decades-long mystery might be closer to resolution than ever before.

Mr Gamble, who also discusses the case at length on the True Criminals podcast, said: “I’m an optimist. I believe in my lifetime we will find out what happened and hold anyone responsible to account.”