Bernie Ecclestone, the 95-year-old British tycoon who steered Formula 1 for nearly four decades before Liberty Media’s 2017 takeover ousted him from leadership, has pushed back against reports claiming he was arrested at a Portuguese aerodrome over an undeclared shotgun.
The incident unfolded on Monday, when Ecclestone arrived at Cascais’ Tires Aerodrome after flying in from Switzerland. He was traveling to compete in a local clay pigeon shooting competition, bringing his shotgun along for the event. In a statement to the Press Association, Ecclestone clarified that he was only stopped and questioned by a team of four police officers and customs officials, not taken into custody.
According to Ecclestone, he had previously transported the shotgun from his home country of the United Kingdom to Switzerland without incident, and expected smooth entry into Portugal because airport authorities are familiar with him. He told reporters, “I went to see the police and said, ‘What can I do for you?’ And they said, ‘We would like some information on this gun you brought in.’” After roughly an hour of questioning, Ecclestone surrendered the firearm, as he lacked the required official documentation for legal import into Portugal. The former F1 boss also emphasized that Portuguese law enforcement acted politely and professionally throughout the interaction, noting they were “very helpful.”
This is not the first time Ecclestone has run into legal trouble related to firearms at an airport. Back in May 2022, he was arrested in Brazil after being found illegally carrying a firearm while boarding a private jet bound for Switzerland. He ultimately resolved that incident by paying a fine of 6,000 Brazilian reals, equivalent to roughly £1,000, to local authorities.