Cape Verde PM Vows Stability After Hospital Director Arrest
Cape Verdean Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho issued a public assurance on Wednesday that the country’s largest medical facility will remain fully operational despite a high-profile scandal involving its top leadership. The statement comes in the wake of the arrest of the hospital’s director on charges related to international drug trafficking.
“Operation Shark” Snares Hospital Chief
Odair Carvalho, the chairman of the board and director of the Agostinho Neto University Hospital (HUAN) in Praia, was among 20 individuals detained on Tuesday during a massive law enforcement sweep dubbed “Operation Shark.” The arrest is particularly sensitive for the administration, as the government had appointed Carvalho to his leadership post just two months ago.
Addressing the public during an event in the capital, Prime Minister Carvalho emphasized the independence of the legal process. “We advocate for justice to function freely, autonomously, and without any kind of pressure,” the Prime Minister said. “On the other hand, we guarantee the population that the Agostinho Neto University Hospital will continue to operate normally.”
A Deep-Rooted Criminal Network
The Judicial Police (PJ) revealed that the suspects face a litany of serious charges, including high-risk drug trafficking, money laundering, criminal association, and the concealment of assets. The investigation suggests a sophisticated network that had penetrated several layers of the state’s security and administrative apparatus.
In addition to the hospital director, those detained in the Tuesday raids include four National Police officers and five prison guards. This latest wave of arrests follows an initial phase of “Operation Shark” in July, which saw 12 individuals taken into custody in connection with an alleged drug trafficking network with significant international ties.
The government has not yet announced an interim replacement for the hospital’s board, but officials insist that patient care at the nation’s primary healthcare hub will not be disrupted by the ongoing criminal proceedings.
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