Cape Verde Police Dismantle Trafficking Ring on Boa Vista
Authorities in Cape Verde have dealt a significant blow to narcotics networks on the island of Boa Vista. In a coordinated sweep dubbed “Operation Hope,” the Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested 16 individuals and seized a substantial haul of drugs, illicit weapons, and international currency.
‘Operation Hope’ Targets Boa Esperança
The operation took place on Sunday in the Boa Esperança neighborhood, following a rigorous investigation that began in September 2025. According to a statement released by the PJ, the raid involved 71 personnel from both the Judiciary Police and the National Police.
Officers recovered more than 300 individual doses of cocaine, hashish, and cannabis. In addition to the narcotics, police seized a cache of cash in Cape Verdean escudos, euros, and dollars, totaling an estimated value of 32,000 euros.
Network Leaders Among the Detained
The 16 suspects, ranging in age from 19 to 48, include 14 men and two women. While the majority of the group are Cape Verdean nationals originally from the island of Santiago, four Nigerian nationals were also taken into custody. Police identified one of the Nigerian suspects as a suspected “kingpin” of the trafficking network operating on Boa Vista.
Following court appearances on Wednesday, five of the suspects were ordered into preventive detention. The group faces a litany of charges, including drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons, money laundering, qualified theft, and robbery.
Related Seizure on São Nicolau
In a separate enforcement action on the island of São Nicolau, the National Police reported the arrest of two individuals caught in the act of transporting more than 22 kilograms of hashish. One of those suspects has been placed in preventive detention as the investigation continues.
These back-to-back operations signal a heightened effort by Cape Verdean authorities to dismantle organized crime and curb the flow of narcotics across the archipelago.
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