Saturday, March 9, 2013

Africa's Cocaine Hub

Der Spiegel

Africa's Cocaine Hub: Guinea-Bissau a 'Drug Trafficker's Dream' -- Spiegel Online

Guinea-Bissau has become a major hub of cocaine trafficking between Latin America and Europe. But any wealth the West African nation has derived from its middleman status has been offset by increased violence and instability.

João Biague says he only has one way to lose his job: "success." As soon as he manages to seize a shipment of drugs, he admits, "I'll be fired." But "success" is not actually part of the job description of the director general of Guinea-Bissau's judicial police.

Biague has his office in a colonial building slowly turning black from the moisture and humidity. It's located on a dirt street near an athletic field. The potholes are filled with plastic refuse and seashells. A woman is crouching under a ceiba tree and roasting a scrawny ear of corn over a smoldering fire.

Read more ....

My Comment: A corrupt government. An ideal transit location. Eager workers who are willing to take the risk. Yup .... a perfect place for a drug smuggler.

No comments: