In a significant development in Cabo Verde, the court has ruled that eleven out of twenty individuals detained in the second phase of Operation SHARK, conducted in the city of Praia, will be held in preventive detention. The operation, carried out by the Judicial Police through its Central Directorate of Criminal Investigation, targeted various neighborhoods in Praia and resulted in the arrest of seventeen men and three women, aged between twenty and sixty years.
The detainees include four National Police agents, five prison guards, and one public administration official. According to the Attorney General's Office, the investigation focuses on crimes such as high-risk drug trafficking, conversion, concealment, and money laundering, as well as criminal association, all punishable under national penal legislation. The court has also ordered the nine other individuals to face non-custodial measures, including periodic appearances before the Judicial Police and prohibition of contact with co-defendants.
The non-custodial measures also include restrictions on professional functions and access to institutional facilities and systems. Specifically, some individuals are prohibited from exercising activities related to hospital management, accessing pharmaceutical stocks, and controlling medications. Others face restrictions related to their roles in the Fiscal Guard, police functions, and the Directorate-General of Road Transport. The court has also ordered the confiscation of various items, including a hunting rifle, a pistol, ammunition, cannabis, and electronic equipment.
The investigation, led by the Public Prosecution Office through the Central Department of Penal Action, aims to fully clarify the facts, determine potential criminal liabilities, identify other possible suspects, and gather all relevant evidence for the case. The operation involved the execution of ten search and seizure warrants, resulting in the confiscation of various items, including vehicles and electronic equipment.
The eleven individuals in preventive detention and the nine under non-custodial measures have been informed of the court's decisions, which have also been communicated to their respective employers and hierarchical services for the implementation of functional measures decreed by the court. The case involves a range of serious crimes, including high-risk drug trafficking and money laundering.
The Attorney General's Office has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that further details will be disclosed as the case unfolds. The operation and subsequent court decisions mark a significant effort by the authorities in Cabo Verde to combat organized crime and ensure justice.
The court's measures are designed to prevent further involvement of the detainees in the alleged crimes and to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the investigation or to public safety. The case will continue to be monitored, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Key points
- Eleven individuals have been placed in preventive detention, while nine others face non-custodial measures in connection with Operation SHARK in Cabo Verde.
