Former Guinea-Bissau President’s son sentenced to over six years in US Prison for heroin trafficking and coup plot

Former Guinea-Bissau President Malam Bacai Sanha’s son, Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, has been sentenced to over six years in a US prison for leading an international heroin trafficking operation.

Authorities revealed that Sanha Jr intended to use the drug proceeds to finance a coup in Guinea-Bissau and become president.

He has been linked to a failed coup in 2022 and was extradited to the US from Tanzania.

Sanha Jr pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and faces deportation after serving his sentence.

The 52-year-old, also known as «Bacaizinho», has held government roles and allegedly admitted involvement in the 2022 coup attempt.

Guinea-Bissau is notorious for drug trafficking, with traffickers often influencing politics and funding election campaigns.