German police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are to carry out fresh searches in Portugal this week, 18 years after the three-year-old went missing.

German authorities said they are receiving support from Portuguese law enforcement.

They last carried out searches in the country in 2023 near the Barragem do Arade reservoir, about 30 miles from the resort of Praia da Luz.

Madeleine disappeared in 2007 while on holiday with her family at the resort after her parents went out to dinner and left her sleeping in a room with her toddler twin siblings.

The prime suspect in the case is Christian Brueckner, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for the rape of an elderly woman at her home in Praia da Luz in 2005.

Brueckner, who spent time in the area between 2000 and 2017, had photographs and videos of himself near the reservoir. He has denied any involvement in her disappearance.

The Sun reported that searches are to be carried out this week.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police said: “We are aware of the searches being carried by the BKA (German federal police) in Portugal as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

“The Metropolitan police service is not present at the search. We will support our international colleagues where necessary.”

The area near the Barragem do Arade reservoir had previously been searched in 2008, when Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia paid for specialist divers to search it after he claimed to have been tipped off by criminal contacts that Madeleine’s body was there.

Later, in 2014, British police were given permission to examine scrubland near where she vanished.

Last month Madeleine’s family marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance, describing her as “beautiful and unique” before her 22nd birthday and expressing their determination to keep searching.

A statement from her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and the family said: “The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to ‘leave no stone unturned’ is unwavering. We will do our utmost to achieve this.”

In April, ministers approved more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine’s disappearance.

Brueckner is due for release from prison in September, after which he would be free to leave Germany. The Sun reported that a well-placed Portuguese source confirmed this week’s operation was scheduled to get under way on Tuesday but said some preparation work may take place beforehand.

The source was reported saying: “They will be land searches only. The main objective is to look for any signs of Madeleine’s body.”

The search is expected to last around three days unless anything relevant emerges, the paper said.