Man arrested in Praia with cocaine in his system remains in pre-trial detention
A 36-year-old foreign man was arrested in Praia after being caught with 1.5 kg of cocaine in capsules in his system. The court ordered preventive detention. The case is part of ongoing actions against drug trafficking in the country.
Cape Verde's Judicial Police (PJ) announced on Saturday that the foreign national arrested on Tuesday at Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia has been placed in pre-trial detention, after being intercepted with one and a half kilos of cocaine concealed in his body.
The 36-year-old man was traveling on a flight from Guinea-Bissau. According to the PJ, the drug was packed in 104 capsules swallowed by the suspect. In addition to the drugs, the authorities seized 965 euros in cash.
In a statement, the PJ stressed that the amount of cocaine seized would be enough to prepare around 7,914 individual doses, if it had reached the illicit market. The Praia District Court ordered pre-trial detention, the most serious coercive measure provided for by law.
The operation is part of the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking by the Cape Verdean authorities, who often cooperate with international forces.
In 2024, Cape Verde took part in a major regional operation against drug trafficking in West Africa, which resulted in the seizure of 1.6 tons of cocaine, valued at 50 million dollars (around 47.8 million euros).
