Cape Verde Police Arrest Two Suspected of High-Risk Drug Trafficking
The Judicial Police (PJ) in Cape Verde have arrested two men, aged 26 and 28, on suspicion of high-risk drug trafficking. The operation took place in the Lombo de Camoca area of Ponta do Sol, on the island of Santo Antão. The operation was carried out by the Santo Antão Criminal Investigation Brigade (BICSA), part of the Mindelo Criminal Investigation Department (DICM), with support from the National Police. This action followed a court-issued search warrant for a residence, requested by the police and approved by the Ribeira Grande District Court. These investigations are linked to Operation 'Colá Son Jon,' which occurred on June 19 in Porto Novo. Authorities believe the two newly arrested suspects, both natives and residents of Santo Antão, were working with a couple previously detained in the earlier operation, who are also in preventive custody. Evidence suggests the two men were part of a network involved in drug trafficking across the towns of Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande (Povoação), and Ponta do Sol. During the recent operation, police seized approximately 96.59 grams of a green, plant-based substance, confirmed by a preliminary test to be cannabis, along with other items deemed significant for the ongoing investigation.
This operation highlights the ongoing efforts by Cape Verdean law enforcement to combat drug trafficking networks operating across the islands. The coordinated approach involving multiple police units and judicial oversight, including search warrants and court approvals, suggests a structured response to organized crime. The connection to a previous operation and the alleged involvement of individuals in a wider trafficking ring indicate a persistent challenge in dismantling these networks. Future efforts may focus on further disrupting supply chains and addressing the root causes that facilitate such activities within the local economy and social structure.
AI-generated to prompt reflection — not editorial opinion, not advice, not a statement of fact. How this works.