Showing posts with label drugs trafficking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drugs trafficking. Show all posts
Sunday, September 01, 2013
[Guinean news] Bissau cocaine traffickers moving into Conakry
Guinea-Bissau is widely described as Africa's first narco-state. But this article in Mmegi Online is the latest to express the concern that narcotraffickers are increasingly moving south into Conakry and may begin to destabilize Guinea as well.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Drugs trafficking and Guinea
This article from The New York Times about the much-publicized Wikileaks’ diplomatic cables reports the influence of narco-traffickers in Guinea during the regime of Lansana Conté. With neighboring Guinea-Bissau often referred to as Africa’s first narco state and with parts of Mali also used by the drugs traffickers, it’s unlikely that their influence has completely disappeared with the end of Conté’s reign.
Monday, July 13, 2009
[Guinean news] Junta warns of invasion
The Guinean military regime has put the armed forces on high alert after claiming to have uncovered a plot to attack the country.
An announcement on state-run national radio said drugs cartels were believed to be behind the plans.
Cocaine cartels have essentially taken over the neighboring Republic of Guinea-Bissau, however the CNDD junta in Conakry said that armed men were also amassing along the borders in Senegal and Liberia.
"The ministry of defence was informed by the security services and other credible sources of the preparation of an armed attack on Guinea from its borders with Guinea-Bissau and the region of Casamance [in Senegal]," said a Guinean government statement. "These sources have also indicated that there are armed men regrouping on the border with Guinea Bissau to the north and the town of Foya to the south on the border with Liberia."
The governments of Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Liberia denied that there were any armed groups along their borders with Guinea.
An announcement on state-run national radio said drugs cartels were believed to be behind the plans.
Cocaine cartels have essentially taken over the neighboring Republic of Guinea-Bissau, however the CNDD junta in Conakry said that armed men were also amassing along the borders in Senegal and Liberia.
"The ministry of defence was informed by the security services and other credible sources of the preparation of an armed attack on Guinea from its borders with Guinea-Bissau and the region of Casamance [in Senegal]," said a Guinean government statement. "These sources have also indicated that there are armed men regrouping on the border with Guinea Bissau to the north and the town of Foya to the south on the border with Liberia."
The governments of Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Liberia denied that there were any armed groups along their borders with Guinea.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
[Guinean news] Ex-army chief charged with drugs trafficking
The former head of the Guinean army, Gen. Diarra Camara, and 19 others were charged with drugs trafficking. The group of defendants includes Nigerian, Ghanaian and Israeli nationals as well as Gen. Camara's son and the former and current heads of the country's Marine Corps.
The son of the late head of state Gen. Lansana Conte confessed early this year to being involved in drugs trafficking.
The son of the late head of state Gen. Lansana Conte confessed early this year to being involved in drugs trafficking.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
[Guinean news] Is Guinea Africa's second narcostate?
Guinea-Bissau, where the president and army chief were recently assassinated, has often been described as Africa's first narcostate. There are increasing fears that neighboring Guinea is becoming the second.
Last month, several senior police officials along with the son of the late Gen. Lansana Conté were arrested on allegations of collaboration with South American cocaine cartels.
This Associated Press article shares details of Ousmane Conté's confession and the troubling admissions contained therein.
A junior police officer claimed "Eighty percent of the men in uniform lived off of" drug money.
Some snipets from the AP piece:
When planes loaded with cocaine arrived, Guinea's presidential guard secured the cargo. Drug deals were conducted inside the first lady's private residence and in the president's VIP salon at the airport. To avoid detection, cocaine was sent to Europe in the country's diplomatic pouch.
[...]
The confessions [of Ousmane Conté and other former top officials] paint a picture of an illicit trade conducted with total impunity, with the help of officials, members of the president's family and security forces. They also show the large role Guinea and other West African countries are playing as drug hubs, and how vulnerable they are to the corrupting influence of drug dollars.
[...]
The inner circle of former dictator Lansana Conté, who ruled Guinea for 24 years until his death, was deeply corrupt, with officials driving opulent SUVs in a capital where most people live without electricity.
[...]
In a jailhouse interview this week with The Associated Press, [Ousmane] Conté explained how he did it. He said a friend brought in "medicine" for his humanitarian foundation, using a Red Cross plane that landed at night at the international airport in the capital, Conakry. When the plane arrived, his friend called to wake him. Conté then went to the airport accompanied by the presidential guard to secure the cargo, he said.
Conté claimed he did not know at first that the cargo contained cocaine. But his friend later told him, he said, and Conte accepted a $300,000 bribe.
[...]
The late president's brother-in-law said he met with Latin American drug dealers inside a villa owned by his sister, the former first lady. The head of the country's intelligence unit said he personally accompanied a convoy of trucks containing drugs to the capital. The former head of the police force was challenged to account for the source of funds for a university he is building.
Even the former head of the country's anti-drug unit was interrogated on state TV for his alleged role. The unit was in charge of seizing drugs when a cache was found. But instead of securing and destroying the drugs, the cocaine was often "recycled," said top police officials and foreign diplomats.
Last month, several senior police officials along with the son of the late Gen. Lansana Conté were arrested on allegations of collaboration with South American cocaine cartels.
This Associated Press article shares details of Ousmane Conté's confession and the troubling admissions contained therein.
A junior police officer claimed "Eighty percent of the men in uniform lived off of" drug money.
Some snipets from the AP piece:
When planes loaded with cocaine arrived, Guinea's presidential guard secured the cargo. Drug deals were conducted inside the first lady's private residence and in the president's VIP salon at the airport. To avoid detection, cocaine was sent to Europe in the country's diplomatic pouch.
[...]
The confessions [of Ousmane Conté and other former top officials] paint a picture of an illicit trade conducted with total impunity, with the help of officials, members of the president's family and security forces. They also show the large role Guinea and other West African countries are playing as drug hubs, and how vulnerable they are to the corrupting influence of drug dollars.
[...]
The inner circle of former dictator Lansana Conté, who ruled Guinea for 24 years until his death, was deeply corrupt, with officials driving opulent SUVs in a capital where most people live without electricity.
[...]
In a jailhouse interview this week with The Associated Press, [Ousmane] Conté explained how he did it. He said a friend brought in "medicine" for his humanitarian foundation, using a Red Cross plane that landed at night at the international airport in the capital, Conakry. When the plane arrived, his friend called to wake him. Conté then went to the airport accompanied by the presidential guard to secure the cargo, he said.
Conté claimed he did not know at first that the cargo contained cocaine. But his friend later told him, he said, and Conte accepted a $300,000 bribe.
[...]
The late president's brother-in-law said he met with Latin American drug dealers inside a villa owned by his sister, the former first lady. The head of the country's intelligence unit said he personally accompanied a convoy of trucks containing drugs to the capital. The former head of the police force was challenged to account for the source of funds for a university he is building.
Even the former head of the country's anti-drug unit was interrogated on state TV for his alleged role. The unit was in charge of seizing drugs when a cache was found. But instead of securing and destroying the drugs, the cocaine was often "recycled," said top police officials and foreign diplomats.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
[Guinean news] Conté's son reportedly confesses to drugs' trafficking
An addendum to the previous entry: Reuters is reporting that Guinean state television aired a videotaped confession by Ousmane Conté to drugs' trafficking charges after 'an all-night interrogation.
[Guinean news] Conté's son arrested along with senior police officials
The last week has seen the arrest of several high profile Guineans by the CNDD junta.
Most notably, Ousmane Conté, son of the country's recently deceased head of state, was arrested on allegations of drugs trafficking
The Associated Press added: On Monday night [Feb. 23], coup leader Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara appeared on national television and defended the arrest of several high-ranking police officials who also are suspected of being involved in drug trafficking. "The majority of high-ranking police officials are implicated in drug trafficking," Camara said in his address to the nation. "They have built castles ... between them some of them have more than 10 to 15 villas in Conakry. It's time to denounce it."
Human Rights' Watch West Africa expert praised the junta's efforts against drugs trafficking and noted that the arrests "could greatly contribute to the fight against impunity in Guinea," though she warned against excesses.
Most notably, Ousmane Conté, son of the country's recently deceased head of state, was arrested on allegations of drugs trafficking
The Associated Press added: On Monday night [Feb. 23], coup leader Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara appeared on national television and defended the arrest of several high-ranking police officials who also are suspected of being involved in drug trafficking. "The majority of high-ranking police officials are implicated in drug trafficking," Camara said in his address to the nation. "They have built castles ... between them some of them have more than 10 to 15 villas in Conakry. It's time to denounce it."
Human Rights' Watch West Africa expert praised the junta's efforts against drugs trafficking and noted that the arrests "could greatly contribute to the fight against impunity in Guinea," though she warned against excesses.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
[Guinean news] Boké drugs raid nets local officials
A cocaine bust in the eastern town of Boké has seen the arrest of the mayor and top police officials as well as the region's governor.
An aircraft allegedly carrying a large quantity of cocaine mysteriously landed and took off early on Thursday [Sept. 5] in Boke.
The officials were taking to Conakry for questioning.
Drugs' trafficking is an increasing problem in parts of Guinea, as neighboring Guinea-Bissau is widely acknowledged to have become Africa's first narco-state.
An aircraft allegedly carrying a large quantity of cocaine mysteriously landed and took off early on Thursday [Sept. 5] in Boke.
The officials were taking to Conakry for questioning.
Drugs' trafficking is an increasing problem in parts of Guinea, as neighboring Guinea-Bissau is widely acknowledged to have become Africa's first narco-state.
Friday, August 08, 2008
[Guinean news] Drugs' trafficking in West Africa approaching crisis point?
The Washington Post has an article by the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime on a problem that's causing increasing concern: drugs trafficking in West Africa.
The sub-region has become a major transit point for cocaine smuggling between Latin America and Europe. Originally, activity was centered in Guinea-Bissau, a borderline failed state that has been without a strong central government for a decade.
However, The Post's article reports that the cartels are threatening to branch out into Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Last month alone, more than 600 kilos [of cocaine] were seized in a plane with fake Red Cross markings at the airport in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and at the international airport in Bissau, several hundred boxes were unloaded from a jet.
It notes that fighting this problem will be difficult.
Poverty is the biggest problem. These countries are the worst performers on the human development index -- their populations at the bottom of the "bottom billion." Unemployed and desperate youths are vulnerable to being recruited as foot soldiers for criminal groups. West African countries must take control of their coasts and airspace. This requires hardware (boats, planes and radar), know-how (investigative techniques and container security) and counter-narcotics intelligence. Some of these capabilities can be developed nationally, but some assistance will have to come from abroad.
Another obstacle is those countries' public institutions, which are weak and plagued by corruption.
TIME also ran a piece on Guinea-Bissau becoming West Africa's first narco-state as did the UK Independent. A Russian news site reported on the seizure of a ship ferrying a huge load of cocaine of the coast of Conakry earlier this year. The UN's Office on Drugs and Crime has a thorough report on the West African cocaine trafficking problem.
The sub-region has become a major transit point for cocaine smuggling between Latin America and Europe. Originally, activity was centered in Guinea-Bissau, a borderline failed state that has been without a strong central government for a decade.
However, The Post's article reports that the cartels are threatening to branch out into Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Last month alone, more than 600 kilos [of cocaine] were seized in a plane with fake Red Cross markings at the airport in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and at the international airport in Bissau, several hundred boxes were unloaded from a jet.
It notes that fighting this problem will be difficult.
Poverty is the biggest problem. These countries are the worst performers on the human development index -- their populations at the bottom of the "bottom billion." Unemployed and desperate youths are vulnerable to being recruited as foot soldiers for criminal groups. West African countries must take control of their coasts and airspace. This requires hardware (boats, planes and radar), know-how (investigative techniques and container security) and counter-narcotics intelligence. Some of these capabilities can be developed nationally, but some assistance will have to come from abroad.
Another obstacle is those countries' public institutions, which are weak and plagued by corruption.
TIME also ran a piece on Guinea-Bissau becoming West Africa's first narco-state as did the UK Independent. A Russian news site reported on the seizure of a ship ferrying a huge load of cocaine of the coast of Conakry earlier this year. The UN's Office on Drugs and Crime has a thorough report on the West African cocaine trafficking problem.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
[African news] How Guinea-Bissau is becoming a narco-state
The BBC World Service has a troubling documentary explaining how Guinea-Bissau has become the central transit point for South American drugs traffickers ferrying cocaine to Europe.
The Council on Foreign Relations has information on it as well.
While this may not affect Guinea directly right now, the prospect of having a failed state run by drugs smugglers on Guinea's northwestern border is not a tantalizing one. Given the failed or barely recovering states on Guinea's southern and eastern borders and given the increasingly dysfunctional nature of Guinea's own institutions, Guinea could do without this further destabilizing influence.
The Council on Foreign Relations has information on it as well.
While this may not affect Guinea directly right now, the prospect of having a failed state run by drugs smugglers on Guinea's northwestern border is not a tantalizing one. Given the failed or barely recovering states on Guinea's southern and eastern borders and given the increasingly dysfunctional nature of Guinea's own institutions, Guinea could do without this further destabilizing influence.
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