A US court has handed down a sentence of over six years in prison to the son of Guinea-Bissau’s former president for his involvement in an international heroin trafficking ring.
Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, aged 52, was accused of planning to use the profits from the operation to finance a coup and seize the presidency of Guinea-Bissau.
His father, Malam Bacai Sanha, led the country from 2009 until his death in 2012. Sanha Jr, also implicated in a foiled coup attempt in 2022, was extradited to the US from Tanzania in August 2022.
He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in September of the previous year.
According to FBI agent Douglas Williams, Sanha Jr aimed to establish a drug regime in Guinea-Bissau.
He trafficked heroin from various countries to Portugal and the US and may face deportation after serving his sentence due to his non-American citizenship.
Sanha Jr, also known as “Bacaizinho” in Guinea-Bissau, held governmental roles and admitted involvement in the failed coup attempt targeting President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
Guinea-Bissau has long been known as a hub for drug trafficking, with traffickers wielding significant influence within the government.
