Shotgun Surrendered at Portugal Airport
Former Formula One Boss Bernie Ecclestone Questioned and Detained in Portugal Over Undocumented Shotgun
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Key Points
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Ecclestone said the invitation to the clay-pigeon competition came only days earlier, after his wife, Fabiana, met someone returning from Brazil who encouraged him to participate.
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He said he had passed through customs after declaring only his usual personal belongings, and was then approached outside customs by an aide who told him police wanted to speak with him; Ecclestone said he did not even unzip the gun case during the encounter.
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Ecclestone said four police officers questioned him for roughly an hour, while authorities described the “blue book” as functioning like a passport for firearms.
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The Associated Press reported that officers from Portugal’s Public Security Police airport division found the shotgun and detained Ecclestone before releasing him hours later; it also noted that he divides his time between homes in Switzerland and Portugal and continues to attend Formula One races.
Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone was questioned and briefly detained at Portugal's Tires Airport after authorities discovered a shotgun in his luggage. Adelaide Now reported that Ecclestone had brought the weapon from Switzerland for a clay-pigeon shooting competition but lacked the required "blue book" documentation needed to temporarily import firearms into Portugal.
Ecclestone denied being formally arrested, though Associated Press confirmed he was detained and released hours later. The 93-year-old billionaire, who divides his time between homes in Switzerland and Portugal, said police questioned him for about an hour before instructing him to surrender the weapon while officials determined import procedures.
A Last-Minute Invitation Led to Airport Trouble
Ecclestone explained that the invitation to the clay-pigeon competition came just days before his trip. His wife, Fabiana, had met someone returning from Brazil who encouraged him to participate. He packed the shotgun in a case without realizing he needed specific customs paperwork to bring it into Portugal legally.
He said he passed through initial customs after declaring only his usual personal belongings. An airport aide then approached him outside the checkpoint and told him police wanted to speak with him. Ecclestone stressed he never even unzipped the gun case during the entire encounter with authorities.
The "Blue Book" Requirement He Didn't Know About
Portuguese authorities explained that the "blue book" functions like a passport for firearms. This document is required to temporarily import weapons across borders legally. Without it, countries can deny entry or require payment of duties on the weapon.
Four police officers from Portugal's Public Security Police airport division questioned Ecclestone for roughly an hour. They ultimately instructed him to surrender the shotgun while they determined whether it could be temporarily imported or if customs duties were owed on the weapon.
A Repeat of Past Customs Run-Ins
This incident echoes a 2022 episode in Brazil, where Ecclestone was detained after authorities found an undocumented pistol in his luggage. That encounter raised questions about his knowledge of international firearms regulations and documentation requirements across different countries.
Despite the occasional airport complications, Ecclestone continues his globe-trotting lifestyle. Associated Press noted that he remains active in the Formula One world, regularly attending races while maintaining his residences in Switzerland and Portugal.
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