TRANSPORTATION OF FIREARMS

If you wish to transport a firearm, request authorization to AAC with at least 5(five) days prior to your trip.

TRANSPORTION OF FIREARMS ON THE CARGO HOLD OF THE AIRCRAFT

TRANSPORTATION RESTRICTION

The list of passengers authorized to embark with firearms in the cargo hold of the aircraft is as follows:

1. Elements of the NP (National Police), the JP (Judicial Police), the Prison Guard, and of the Armed Forces, in all circumstances, in domestic flights;
2. Elements of National or Foreign Armed Forces, that travel for mission purposes or military exercises authorized by the State of Cape Verde;
3. Person with license to bare arm for use and defense, in Cape Verde as well as in the country of destination. If it is an international flight, all paperwork must be in order;
4. Person officially registered in organized sport-hunting groups protected by national legislation and the legislation of the country of destination on this particular subject;
5. Person formerly registered in National or International Sport Shooting Organizations and that travel in the purpose of legitimate National or International competition;
6. Accredited Representatives of private Maritime Security companies licensed by the National Ministry of Defense on a mission to accompany weapons destined to embark by ship, aircraft or for storage, after desembarkment of ship or aircraft.

PROCEDURES:

• The acceptance to embark firearms in the cargo hold of the aircraft is only confirmed after the express prior permission from AAC.
• The permission must be requested to AAC upon completion of Modelo C, (Form C) by the service or the person soliciting the transportation of the firearm in the cargo hold of the aircraft.
• The request must be addressed by the head of the service petitioning, its substitute or by the applicant in the cases of paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) mentioned above. It must be submitted to AAC with at least 5 (five) working days prior to the date of the embark, except in duly justified cases of emergency.
• The permission must be granted by the Aeronautical Authority, in writing. It will then be forwarded to the requesting entity, to the air operator to which the weapon will be transported, to the airport administration and to the police in aerodromes of departure and destination 48 (forty-eight) hours before the time of the departure.

TYPES OF WEAPONS THAT CAN BE AUTHORIZED

The weapons that can be authorized to embark on the cargo hold of the aircraft, in flights carrying passengers, are specifically for individual use, with short or elongated barrel up to 9mm gauge.

SPECIAL PROCEDURE OF TRANSPORTATION

1. The authorization of the Aeronautical Authority should be delivered at the time of check-in to the representative of aircraft operator, which will inform the aerodrome police of the authorized embarkation of the firearm on the cargo hold of the aircraft;
2. The weapon must be transported separately from the respective ammunition, with a trigger lock or a mechanism that will prevent its use, in a bag or a case best fit for the model in question with adequate security conditions;
3. The NP, being the entity having the most trained elements and which are mostly qualified for this purpose, take these following precautions:
   1. Verify the authenticity and validity of the authorization, and the legal carrying license of firearms in Cape Verde and in the country of destination;
   2. Proceed to verification of the type of weapon material, its location and storage in the baggage;
   3. Inspects and confirms that the weapon is unloaded, with a trigger lock or mechanism that prevents its use, in a bag or case suitable for the model in question, with adequate safety conditions;
   4. Verifies the stowage and the type of packaging if the gun is a different volume;
   5. Fills in Modelo D (Form D) in Annex E which forms an integral part of this CV-CAR which is delivered to the ground crew related to the security of the air operator;
4. Inspections of weapons made by the PN shall be conducted in a safe location and subject to observance of all security conditions so as not to jeopardize one's life or physical integrity;
5. On the aircraft, the weapon or baggage containing a weapon must be inaccessible to any person during the trip:
6. If the weapon to be carried is not secure in checked baggage, it shall be carried in a container which the air operator considers appropriate for such transport;
7. Weapons and their ammunition shall be transported in the ARS to the aircraft by personnel duly trained and authorized by the air operator.

RIGHT TO REFUSAL TRANSPORTATION

In situations of high threat levels or in high security risk flights, the Aeronautical Authority may refuse authorization in a duly substantiated order.