Suitcases with money, jewels seized from Equatorial Guinea delegation
In a joint operation with the International Viracopos Airport, in Campinas, São Paulo state, the Federal Police and Federal Revenue authorities seized suitcases with money and watches from the entourage of Equatorial Guinea’s vice-President Teodoro Obiang Mang. The delegation was carrying approximately $1.5 million and the equivalent of $13 thousand in reals, plus luxury watches estimated to be worth some $15 million.
In a note, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said its officials worked “in permanent collaboration with the Federal Police and the Federal Revenue Service in the case, with the adoption of applicable measures.” The investigation is being conducted under diplomatic secrecy.
In addition to the vice-president, ten people were aboard. The delegation did not come to Brazil on an official mission. In official missions, diplomatic luggage with documents from the country of origin is not inspected. The delegation, however, had luggage with no diplomatic content.
The vice-president, son of the country’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, said he was coming to Brazil for a health treatment. The aircraft that brought the delegation belongs to Equatorial Guinea and arrived in Viracopos late on Friday (14).
Slightly over three years ago, the vice-president watched Beija-Flor samba school dedicate its Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro to his country. Known as Teodorín, he is the natural successor of his 76-year-old father, in power for over three decades. He served as minister for Agriculture and Forests before occupying his current post.
Inequality
Located in Western Africa, Equatorial Guinea is one the world’s most socially and economically unequal nations. It is also among the countries with the highest number of human rights violations. Its history is marked by periods of dictatorial rule and extreme violence. The current president overthrew the previous one, who was sentenced to death.
The country’s official languages are Portuguese, Spanish, and French, but other languages are also spoken. Equatorial Guinea is a member of the Portuguese Language Community—alongside Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor.
Equatorial Guinea is the world’s third biggest oil producer, and the fortune of President Nguema Mbasogo is among the ten largest in the world, despite the poverty facing the nation. The country has no access to drinking water, and a high number of children do not live beyond early childhood.
NGOs have denounced intense human trafficking, which targets children, usually forced to engage in sexual activities and to submit to slave-like working conditions.
