CONTE'S WIFE TRAFFICS FORTUNE ACROSS SIERRA LEONE

S E C R E T FREETOWN 000405

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT FOR AF/W (JJHUNTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2018
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL SL GV
SUBJECT: CONTE'S WIFE TRAFFICS FORTUNE ACROSS SIERRA LEONE
BORDER

REF: FREETOWN 336

Classified By: CDA Glenn Fedzer for reasons 1/4(b/e)


1. (S/NF) According to a well-placed source with contacts in
the Sierra Leone security sector, the Guinean First Lady,
Henriette Conte, was stopped at the Sierra Leone-Guinea
border near Kambia on August 14. In her possession was
reportedly over 2 kilos of gold bullion, three luxury
vehicles, several hundred thousand dollars in US currency and
several hundred thousand more in Euros. While details of the
stop and search are incomplete, Mrs. Conte reportedly placed
a direct call to the head of the Office of National Security
(ONS),Kellie Conteh, claiming that she was being harassed.
In light of the armed military officers visible on the
Guinean side of the border, Conteh opted to allow the the
convoy to proceed, rather than create the pretext for an
armed confrontation.


2. (S/NF) The origins of the money and valuables being
carried are not known, but representatives from Britain's
Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA) reported that they have
been investigating Mrs. Conte for drug trafficking for some
time. The SOCA agents are currently in Sierra Leone to assist
with the ongoing investigation following the cocaine seizure
on July 13 (reftel),and assume that the currency in her
possession is likely related to drug activity (embassy note:
while this can not be proven, the traffickers seized in July
were captured with accounting documents indicating that the
held significant financial resources, none was found on the
traffickers when they were arrested). SOCA was surprised and
angered that they had not been informed of the situation by
the ONS prior to Conteh's orders to let her go, and Conteh
himself expressed regret that they had not confiscated the
considerable fortune Mrs. Conte was carrying. Further
detaining her, however, could have resulted in a violent
international incident which the border officials present
would have been helpless to prevent or control.


3. (S/NF) Comment: News of Mrs. Conte's brief border stop has
thus far been kept close-hold. The incident will likely
strain the usually cordial relations between Guinea and
Sierra Leone, but if kept quiet, won't result in
embarrassment or the need for political posturing on either
side. Should the information become public, however, it could
cause unrest in Guinea, or significant problems for the
Government of Sierra Leone as questions are raised as to how
so much money could remain hidden for so long, only to be
smuggled out of the country with the perceived complicity of
the Koroma government. End comment.

FEDZER