Bernie Ecclestone questioned in Portugal over shotgun
The former Formula 1 chief says he surrendered the weapon after arriving from Switzerland without the documents required to import it.
Bernie Ecclestone says Portuguese police and customs officials stopped and questioned him after he arrived at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais with a shotgun.
Ecclestone, 95, told the Press Association he was questioned for about an hour by four police officers and customs officials before surrendering the weapon. He said he did not have the documents required to import it into Portugal.
The former Formula 1 chief said the shotgun was intended for a clay pigeon shooting competition. He described the Portuguese police as “very helpful” and denied reports that he had been arrested.
Ecclestone said he had previously taken the shotgun from England to Switzerland and expected no difficulty bringing it to Portugal because airport officials knew him well.
The incident follows a 2022 firearms-related case in Brazil, where Ecclestone was arrested over an alleged offence and ordered to pay 6,000 Brazilian reals. BBC Sport reported that no Portuguese police statement had been provided on the circumstances or legal status of the surrendered weapon.
