Cape Verdean Police seize 585 ammunition and detain a Portuguese man suspected of arms trafficking
A 48-year-old Portuguese man was detained in Cape Verde after the National Police seized 585 ammunition, from Portugal, hidden in a vehicle. The arrest is part of an operation to combat illegal arms trafficking in the country.
Cape Verdean authorities intensify the fight against arms trafficking. In a joint operation between the National Police and Praia Customs, a vehicle was seized with 585 ammunition, of calibers 12 and 36 millimeters, normally used in homemade weapons. The ammunition was hidden in a container from Lisbon.
Detained following the operation, a 48-year-old man of Portuguese nationality, residing in Switzerland and Cape Verde, will be presented to the Public Prosecutor's Office for the application of coercive measures.
This case is yet another example of the authorities' growing concern about the illegal introduction of weapons in Cape Verde. Since the beginning of the year, 1,575 pieces of ammunition have been seized in Porto da Praia, all from Europe.
The new weapons law, in force for a year, aims to reinforce regulation and control over the possession of weapons and ammunition, with more severe penalties for illegal detention. However, the seizure of weapons and ammunition continues to be a frequent occurrence in the country.
In response to the increase in weapons-related crime, the Government launched, in June 2023, a campaign for the voluntary surrender of weapons and ammunition, encouraging the population to hand over weapons anonymously.
