The Judiciary Police (PJ) of Cape Verde arrested seven individuals in Praia, suspected of drug trafficking and money laundering, seizing cocaine, cannabis, cash, and other materials, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
The arrests took place on the night of April 2 in the Achadinha neighborhood, during a high-risk drug trafficking investigation involving co-offenders.
The suspects, all Cape Verdean nationals, are aged 17 to 37, including six men and one woman. Authorities dismantled an improvised drug production lab and seized several items relevant to the investigation, including narcotics, ammunition, money, and equipment.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 186 doses of cocaine derivatives, an unspecified quantity of cannabis, two precision scales, chemicals used in drug preparation, and packaging materials.
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Other confiscated items included gold and silver objects, electronic devices, mobile phones, four 9mm bullets, and cash.
All suspects were brought before the Praia District Court for initial judicial interrogation. Five remain in pre-trial detention, one will face summary trial, and the female suspect is subject to periodic reporting requirements. The five in detention are held at the Praia central prison pending further legal proceedings.
