Luxury Mansion Seized in Rota do Atlântico Operation Auctioned for Over Eight Million Euros

Lisboa June 23 2024 — Portuguese authorities have put up for sale a mansion owned by a Congo minister in Quinta da Marinha, Cascais. Valued at eight million euros, it was seized in the Rota do Atlântico operation, which led to the arrest of businessmen José Veiga and Paulo Santana Lopes. The mansion features seven bedrooms, a cinema room, and a sea view.

The property, on a 4800 square meter plot near a golf course, contained about eight million euros in hidden cash. Discovered by the police in 2016, the money was never claimed. The investigation indicates that the house belongs to Gilbert Ondongo, Congo’s finance minister.

Translation courtesy of the Sassoufit Collective
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The Rota do Atlântico operation resulted in the detention of Veiga and Santana Lopes, who are close to the presidential family of Congo. The investigation involves 21 suspects and allegations of corruption, criminal association, influence peddling, money laundering, and tax fraud involving Portugal, Brazil, and Congo.

Additional assets, including another house in Cascais and two luxury cars, were also seized. An 80,000-euro Porsche belonging to José Veiga and a nearly 160,000-euro Bentley convertible belonging to Paulo Santana Lopes are also up for sale.