Bernie Ecclestone Detained in Portugal for Carrying Shotgun Without Documentation

Bernie Ecclestone, the 95-year-old former Formula One chief, reported being detained by Portuguese police at Tires Aerodrome near Lisbon after arriving on his private jet from Switzerland with a shotgun intended for clay-pigeon shooting. Ecclestone acknowledged that he did not have the necessary documentation for the firearm and was held for several hours. His wife, Fabiana Flosi, is working to resolve the situation by either paying the required tax or surrendering the gun. Ecclestone stated that he had cleared customs without issues but was later approached by police who requested to search his bag. He described the incident as 'wall-to-wall aggravation.' This is not Ecclestone's first encounter with authorities regarding firearms; he was previously detained in Brazil in May 2022 for carrying a gun without proper documentation. In that instance, he claimed he was unaware the firearm was in his luggage. He mentioned that he had acquired the handgun years ago for personal safety. A spokesperson for the Portuguese police clarified that the incident involved the Tax and Customs Authority, and they referred inquiries to that agency. Customs officials were not immediately available for comment.