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Bernie Ecclestone, the former head of Formula 1, has publicly denied reports claiming he was arrested at a Portuguese airport after arriving with a shotgun intended for a clay pigeon shooting event. The 95-year-old was stopped and questioned at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais upon his arrival from Switzerland, where authorities found he lacked the proper paperwork to bring the firearm into Portugal.
Speaking to the Press Association, Ecclestone explained that although he had to hand over the shotgun, the officers and customs officials were accommodating throughout the process. He emphasized that he was never detained, clarifying, “The Portuguese police were very helpful” and dismissed rumors suggesting an arrest took place. Ecclestone also highlighted his purpose for bringing the shotgun into Portugal, stating it was for participation in a clay pigeon shooting competition.
Ecclestone recounted his prior experience transporting firearms, mentioning that he had previously taken the shotgun from England to Switzerland without issue. Despite being well-known to airport staff, he was questioned for around an hour by police who requested the gun’s documentation, which he did not possess. As a result, he was required to surrender the weapon temporarily.
This is not Ecclestone’s first encounter with firearm-related travel complications. In 2022, he was arrested in Brazil for carrying a gun illegally while boarding a private flight to Switzerland. The incident resulted in a fine of 6,000 Brazilian reals (approximately £1,000), which he paid to resolve the matter with local authorities
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