Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, the son of Guinea-Bissau's former president, has been sentenced to over six years in prison by a US court for leading an international heroin trafficking ring. Authorities revealed that Sanha Jr, 52, intended to use the proceeds from the drug trafficking to fund his aspirations of becoming Guinea-Bissau's president through a coup.
The former president's son has been linked to a failed coup in February 2022 and was extradited to the US in August of the same year after being arrested in Tanzania. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to illegally import drugs in September 2022, shortly after his trial began.
FBI agent Douglas Williams highlighted the unique nature of Sanha Jr's case, stating that he was not an ordinary drug trafficker but had specific political ambitions tied to his actions.
Following his imprisonment, Sanha Jr, who is not a US citizen, could face deportation. He is known as "Bacaizinho" in Guinea-Bissau and has held various government positions, including economic adviser to his father.
Sanha Jr reportedly admitted to being personally involved in the failed 2022 coup attempt to overthrow President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, using drug proceeds to fund the operation, which resulted in the deaths of 11 people, mostly security force members.
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