Cape Verde: Top Officials Arrested in ‘Operation Shark’ Raid
Cape Verdean authorities have dealt a major blow to a suspected high-level criminal network, arresting 20 individuals during a sweeping crackdown dubbed “Operation Shark.” The arrests, which took place Tuesday in the capital city of Praia, target a group allegedly involved in high-risk drug trafficking, money laundering, and deep-seated institutional corruption.
Public Officials Among the Detained
In a revealing statement, the Judiciary Police (PJ) confirmed that the suspects, aged between 20 and 60, include several high-ranking figures within the state’s security and administrative sectors. Among the 17 men and three women taken into custody are four National Police officers and five prison guards.
Perhaps most shocking is the arrest of a senior government official. Sources within the force identified the official as Odair Carvalho, the Chairman and Director of the Agostinho Neto University Hospital (HUAN). Carvalho had been appointed to lead the capital’s largest hospital by the government just two months ago.
A Network of Corruption and Crime
The Judiciary Police detailed that the group is suspected of working together to commit crimes including “high-risk drug trafficking, conversion, concealment, money laundering, and criminal association.”
During the raids conducted across various neighborhoods in Praia, officers seized two firearms and ammunition, along with undisclosed quantities of cocaine and cannabis. Several vehicles and electronic devices were also confiscated as evidence.
Expanding the Investigation
Many of the detainees were already known to authorities, with some holding prior convictions for various offenses. All 20 suspects appeared before a judge today for their initial interrogation, where the court will determine their pretrial detention status and other coercive measures.
“Operation Shark” is an ongoing effort to dismantle organized crime in the archipelago. This latest phase follows an earlier sweep in July, which resulted in 12 arrests linked to a drug trafficking network with extensive international connections. The involvement of law enforcement and administrative officials suggests the investigation is now pivoting toward rooting out internal complicity in Cape Verde’s narcotics trade.
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