Bernie Ecclestone detained at Tires Aerodrome with undeclared shotgun
The former Formula 1 boss, 95, was intercepted with a shotgun after landing in Cascais. Ecclestone says the weapon was intended for a clay pigeon shooting competition.
Former Formula 1 chief intercepted with weapon in Cascais
Bernie Ecclestone, a historical figure in Formula 1, was detained on Monday at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais in possession of an undeclared shotgun. The detention of the 95-year-old British businessman was first reported by Correio da Manhã and confirmed by PÚBLICO. CNN Portugal confirmed details of the incident early in the afternoon.
Following a routine operation carried out at the moment the aircraft in which Ecclestone was travelling landed, authorities detected a shotgun in his luggage. The Tax Authority and Customs Authority was activated, but has not yet issued any official statement on the case.
In comments to PA Media, cited by The Guardian, Ecclestone explained that the weapon was intended for a "clay pigeon shooting competition in Portugal" in which he intended to participate at the encouragement of his wife. He stated that the shotgun, as well as other weapons he owns in Switzerland, "were duly imported", but acknowledged that he did not have the document required by Portuguese authorities.
The businessman also recounted that, before being approached by inspectors, he answered negatively when asked at customs whether he had anything to declare: he said "no, nothing special, just the usual personal things", invoking that at that service people "know me very well". The weapon was ultimately confiscated. Ecclestone, however, claims he was not formally detained.
This is not the first time the magnate has found himself in an identical situation. In 2022, when boarding an airport in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, bound for Switzerland, Brazilian authorities detected a weapon in his luggage. Ecclestone paid bail and was released, according to Sky News.
Ecclestone's career in Formula 1 began in the 1950s, initially as a driver and businessman, and later as a team owner and negotiator of the competition's television rights. For decades he was the main commercial and political figure in motorsport, responsible for agreements with circuits, sponsorships and partnerships that transformed F1 into a global phenomenon. His formal connection to the competition ended in 2017, when Liberty Media acquired the commercial rights to the event.
His connection to Portugal is more recent. Ecclestone and his wife, Fabiana Flosi, acquired a mansion in Quinta da Marinha in Cascais — one of the country's most expensive real estate areas — for approximately 40 million euros, according to reports published at the beginning of this year.
Source: CNN Portugal