Equatorial Guinea
Government accused of involvement in drug trafficking

afrol.com, 25 September - Tomorrow, 26 September, the lawsuit against Santos Pascal Bikomo starts in Madrid. When he was arrested on entering Spain in 1997, he was Equatorial Guinea's Minister of Information and spokesman of the governing Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea. Afrol publishes the letter Bikomo wrote from prison in Madrid denouncing the involvement of the president and almost the entire government in wide-ranging drug trafficking.

Santos Pascal Bikomo was arrested together with a stepson of president Obiang and more than ten others by the Spanish police in July 1997 on entering Spain. They were accused of drug trafficking and falsification of documents.

Bikomo wrote a public letter titled "The Guinea Connection" in the Alcalá Meco jail of Madrid, referring to named person, among them high ranking officials, members of government, the president himself, his family and diplomats abroad, linking them to a drug trafficking ring led by the president. The three main heads of the ring are, according to Bikomo: President Obiang Nguema, his brother Armengol Ondo Nguema and his son and "crown prince" Teodorín, "the patron". He also describes the channels of trafficking between Bata and Europe.

When it comes to big quantities, "these are distributed in Europe, especially Spain, through the shipments of timber (company EXFOSA) and of cocoa and coffee (Casa Mallo and APRA). For the smaller quantities, on the other hand, one uses the official journeys of the president, ministers and ambassadors. Among those used are: Miguel Oyono Ndong (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Alejandro Evuna Owono (Ministro in charge of the Presidency), Lucas Nguema Esono (Minister of Sports and Youth), Juan Olo Mba Nseng (Minister of Mining)". 

Further, Bikomo describes the main channels of distribution and storage of the drugs, which mostly are concentrated in Spain. The Madrid headquarters are supposed to be organised by ambassador Santiago Nsobeya. In Barcelona, the Equatorial Guinean Office of Promotion of Tourism heads operations.

Bikomo claims that his detention by the Spanish police was opportune for the the Equatorial Guinean government, as they were able to "get rid of" a troublesome minister. Knowing he does not have the biggest credibility, the ex-minister relates his detention for drug trafficking to his ex colleagues in government. He himself and one colleague, Elías Ovono Nguema had been criticizing these drug activities strongly and demanded explanations, thus getting the dangerous label of "rebel ministers". Therefore, Bikomo understands the wish of his government to get rid of a minister not willing to serve as a drug dealer on his missions abroad. 

For that reason, he harshly criticizes the Guinean ambassador in Madrid, Santiago Nsobeya, "he didn't do anything while the Spanish police detained me on the Madrid Airport. Bikomo goes on addressing Nsobeya directly in his letter: "One already knows how you and Obiang have organised the operations. I trust in the correctness of the Spanish judiciary, which is going to look at every aspect of this matter. However, I had preferred a public debate with Señor Nsobeya. Sooner or later, the whole truth will be known."

If the whole truth will be presented in the Madrid court, remains to be seen. The lawsuit begins tomorrow and is open to the public.

Source: La Diáspora

© afrol.com. Texts and graphics may be reproduced freely, under the condition that their origin is clearly referred to, see Conditions.    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com