Operation Shark: Drug Probe Hits Cape Verde Officials
A court in Praia has ordered the preventive detention of 11 individuals following a massive anti-corruption and anti-narcotics sweep dubbed “Operation Shark.” The investigation has sent shockwaves through Cape Verde’s public institutions, implicating police officers, prison guards, and a high-ranking health official in a sophisticated criminal network.
High-Ranking Officials Implicated
Among the 20 suspects arrested during the operation was Odair Carvalho, the director and chairman of the board at Agostinho Neto University Hospital (HUAN), the nation’s primary medical facility. Carvalho, who was appointed by the government just two months ago, was not among those detained indefinitely but faces severe restrictions. The court has banned him from managing hospital functions, accessing pharmaceutical stocks, or controlling medication, and has ordered the immediate surrender of his professional credentials.
The remaining nine defendants who were not placed in preventive detention are required to report periodically to authorities and have been barred from leaving the country.
Infiltration of Law Enforcement and Infrastructure
The scope of the alleged corruption reaches deep into the state’s security apparatus. The detainees include four National Police officers and five prison guards. For those serving in the Fiscal Guard, the court has mandated a precautionary suspension, prohibiting them from entering Praia International Airport or customs facilities. They were also forced to surrender their service weapons and official identification.
Other suspects have been blocked from accessing police databases, document issuance systems, and vehicle registration records at the Directorate-General for Road Transport, highlighting the gang’s alleged reach into administrative systems.
Charges and Seizures
The suspects, consisting of 17 men and three women aged between 20 and 60, face a litany of charges including high-risk drug trafficking, money laundering, and criminal association. During the raids across various neighborhoods in the capital, authorities seized firearms, ammunition, and quantities of cannabis and cocaine, alongside vehicles and electronic equipment.
According to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), several of the suspects are repeat offenders with prior criminal records. This latest wave of arrests marks the second phase of Operation Shark; the first phase in July resulted in 12 arrests linked to an international drug trafficking syndicate. The PGR confirmed that investigations are ongoing as authorities work to dismantle the remaining layers of the network.
Image: Pexels – Juan Pablo Daniel
