Bernie Ecclestone Stopped by Police for Bringing Shotgun to Portugal

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone denied being arrested after he was stopped by police at the Tires Aerodrome in Cascais, Portugal, where he arrived with a shotgun intended for a clay pigeon shooting competition. The incident occurred on Monday, September 7, 2026, after Ecclestone, 95, arrived from Switzerland.

Ecclestone explained that he was questioned by four police officers and customs officials and had to "surrender" the weapon because he did not have the proper documents to legally import it. In a statement to the Press Association, Ecclestone described the Portuguese police as "very helpful" and rejected any reports of arrest.

"I was going to take part in a clay pigeon shooting competition in Portugal," said Ecclestone. "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.'"

Ecclestone had previously transported his shotgun from England to Switzerland without issues, as he noted that airport officials know him "very well." Despite expecting no problems, upon arrival, he was questioned for about an hour and ultimately had to hand over the shotgun due to missing official documents.

This incident marks the second firearms-related issue Ecclestone faced at an airport. Previously, in May 2022, he was arrested in Brazil for illegally carrying a gun while boarding a private plane to Switzerland. Following that incident, he was fined 6,000 Brazilian reals (approximately £1,000) by local authorities.