The Cape Verdean Judicial Police (PJ) announced on December 16 the arrest of 16 individuals in Praia during an operation under the “Safe Christmas and New Year’s Eve” campaign. The operation, conducted on Friday in the Várzea area, resulted in the seizure of 107 grams of cocaine, 405,755 escudos (around €3,672), electronic equipment, and other evidence.
The suspects—seven women and nine men, aged 21 to 56, all Cape Verdean nationals—were caught in flagrante delicto and face charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. Authorities also seized a precision scale with traces of cocaine.
The Praia District Court ordered preventive detention for four male suspects, while the others were placed under measures such as regular check-ins and travel bans.
The PJ emphasized that this operation is part of ongoing efforts to ensure holiday security, with further actions planned. Earlier this week, the PJ arrested two men for attempted murder, seizing one kilogram of cocaine and a firearm. Additionally, Cape Verdean authorities remain active in international anti-drug operations.
Earlier this month, six Brazilian crew members were placed under preventive detention after being intercepted at sea with 1.6 tons of cocaine en route from South America to Europe. This major seizure, part of the “Trade Winds” operation, involved cooperation with the Portuguese Judicial Police, Navy, Brazilian Federal Police, and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Center – Narcotics (MAOC-N), based in Lisbon.