Bernie Ecclestone found himself at the center of another firearm controversy after being stopped by officials in Portugal for illegally carrying a shotgun on his private jet. The 95-year-old former Formula One mogul was interrogated for hours following his arrival at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais, near Lisbon, after flying in from his chalet in Switzerland.
Speaking exclusively about the incident, Ecclestone explained that he was merely transporting the weapon as a favor for a friend participating in a clay-pigeon shooting competition. "I had a gun that I was bringing over from Switzerland to Portugal for clay-pigeon shooting because someone we know was in an important competition," he stated.
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SubscribeThe billionaire Formula One veteran noted that while local customs clearance initially went smoothly, a subsequent police search uncovered the weapon inside his luggage. When authorities requested the required documentation, known locally as a blue book, Ecclestone admitted he was not carrying the necessary paperwork.
The situation escalated into what the British businessman described as "wall-to-wall aggravation" before his wife, Fabiana, stepped in to help resolve the bureaucratic hurdle with officials in Lisbon. This latest episode echoes a similar incident in Brazil four years prior, where Ecclestone was detained for possession of an unregistered firearm while boarding a private aircraft.
F1 Mogul Faces Fresh Airport Security Scrutiny
The high-profile detention highlights the strict international regulations governing the transport of firearms across European borders, even for high-net-worth individuals utilizing private aviation facilities. Aviation experts confirmed that Ecclestone's Dassault Falcon 7X touched down at the Cascais airfield late Sunday night following a direct flight from Saanen.
Portuguese authorities clarified that the initial intervention involved customs and tax enforcement representatives rather than standard border control personnel. The complex web of jurisdiction and tax declarations has kept Ecclestone anchored at home while his legal team works to clear the matter completely.
Despite the frustration caused by the ordeal, the nonagenarian billionaire maintains that the weapon was intended purely for sporting purposes and posed no security threat. His recent relocation to a sprawling luxury estate in the prestigious Portuguese resort area of Quinta da Marinha has placed him and his family under increased public observation.
As local authorities continue to review the customs infraction, Ecclestone remains sequestered at his residence waiting for the situation to be officially put to bed. Legal representatives for the former motorsport supremo are continuing discussions with Lisbon delegates to finalize the administrative resolution.