Guinea

Son of Guinea's late President confesses to drug smuggling on television

Article published on the 2009-02-27 Latest update 2009-02-27 13:12 TU

Bags of cocaine
(Photo: Wikipedia)

Army Major Ousmane Conté, the son of late Guinean President Lansana Conté, confessed to drug smuggling on national television late on Wednesday night during an interrogation as part of a public anti-drugs campaign.

In the images broadcast across the country, Conté is seen in hospital receiving fluids through an intravenous drip.

“I admit being involved in drugs trafficking in Guinea,” he says. “Everyone who knows me, knows I’m not a liar. It’s true that I am mixed up in this drug business, but I’m not the godfather.”

As well as Ousmane, another of Lansana Conté’s sons, Ansou Conté was also arrested this week, according to military sources.

These arrests are part of a public anti-drug campaign and the televised interrogation was carried out by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, the state secretary for the fight against drugs and major crimes.

Guinea and other countries in west Africa have become an important transit point for south American cocaine destined for Europe, and it is evident that the corruption goes further than the Conté family.

“About six other female police officials are awaiting trial after they were arrested last week for their involvement in drug trafficking,” says Karim Kamara, a correspondent in Conakry.

“They include Termith Marah, former head of the Guinean anti-drug unit and Mamady Mansare, Director of the Conakry maximum security prison."

And Ousmane Conté was clearly not in a good condition

“Twenty-four hours after his arrest, Ousmane Conté’s health began to deteriorate according to his doctor, his condition was serious and needed urgent medical attention,” Kamara told RFI.

Earlier in the week Lansana’s brother-in-law, Saturin Bangoura was also featured on state television confessing to receiving cash from a “Colombian partner”.

President Lansana Conté ruled the west African country for 24 years before passing away on 22 December 2008.