Operation SHARK: 7 of 12 arrested in Cape Verde drug bust remain in custody
Seven out of twelve individuals arrested during "Operation SHARK" in Praia, Cape Verde, have been ordered to remain in preventive detention. The operation, launched on Thursday, November 16th, targeted criminal activity in the Fazenda, Palmarejo, Craveiro Lopes, and Plateau neighborhoods. The remaining five detainees, including a 92-year-old man and four women, were subjected to less severe measures, such as periodic reporting to authorities and a travel ban. The operation was a joint effort by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Combatting (DCIC) and the Central Section for the Investigation of Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime (SCITECO). Its objective was to dismantle a criminal network suspected of high-risk drug trafficking, money laundering, criminal association, and weapons offenses. During twelve house searches, authorities apprehended 12 suspects, some caught in the act. The police seized 1.1627 kilograms of cocaine, drug preparation materials, two precision scales, and other drug-related items. Significant cash was also confiscated, including 2,048,269 Cape Verdean escudos and 770 euros, believed to be proceeds from criminal activities. The operation also led to the seizure of 25 vehicles, including taxis and luxury cars, four motorcycles, a jet ski, three bicycles, gold and silver artifacts, and multiple mobile phones. Additionally, law enforcement recovered two shotguns, 500 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, two 9mm rounds, one 7.65mm round, and 25 shotgun cartridges.
Operation SHARK highlights the ongoing challenges Cape Verde faces in combating organized crime, particularly drug trafficking and associated money laundering. The extensive seizures of drugs, cash, vehicles, and weapons indicate the significant scale of the alleged criminal enterprise. The judicial decision to impose preventive detention on a majority of the arrested individuals suggests a judicial assessment of the severity of the charges and potential flight risk. This operation underscores the importance of robust investigative capacity and inter-agency cooperation in addressing transnational crime that impacts the region's stability and economy. Future efforts may focus on strengthening financial intelligence and asset recovery mechanisms to disrupt the profitability of these criminal networks.
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