U.S. Government Names African Military Official A Drug 'Kingpin'

Apr. 13, 2010 — -- For the first time ever, the U.S. government has labeled an active foreign military official an international drug "kingpin," in a part of Africa that federal authorities say has become a transshipment point for South American drugs, and a source of revenue for al Qaeda terrorists.

Ibraima Pap Camara, the Air Force chief of staff in Guinea Bissau, has been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for his alleged role in a massive airlift of cocaine from Venezuela. Also cited was the former head of Guinea-Bissau's Navy, Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto.

"The United States Department of Treasury has made this designation because we have reason to believe that these two individuals are involved in significant international drug-trafficking activity that affects the national interests of the United States," said State Department spokesman PJ Crowley.

A senior Treasury official also told ABC News that West Africa's growing international drug trade isn't just lining the pockets of corrupt government officials, but terrorists as well.

"It helps to fuel violence and terrorism," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "We've seen al-Qaeda and the Islamic Maghreb profiting off of the drug trade, whether it's proposing taxes or other payments on drug traffickers operating in the region, in Mali and Mauritania in particular. This is very dangerous, even beyond the criminal narcotics trafficking itself."

The official told ABC News that naming Camara and Na Tuchuto is a "pretty big deal," and could be a turning point in the war on drugs in Africa.

"This gives us the ability to then look at their networks, look at who are the individuals supporting them, funding them, laundering their money, and subsequently follow up and name those individuals."

According to Treasury, both Camara and Na Tchuto have been linked to an aircraft that allegedly flew a shipment of 600 kilograms of cocaine from Venezuela to Guinea-Bissau in July 2008. The senior Treasury official told ABC News the two engaged in additional activities connected to drug trafficking, as well involvement by other individuals, but the official declined to provide additional details on the other activities or individuals.

The two men were sanctioned in accordance with the U.S government's "Kingpin Act." Americans are now banned from doing business with Camara and Tchuto, and any assets the men have in the United States or under U.S. jurisdiction are now frozen.