The trial on international cocaine trafficking continued on Thursday February 29 at the Economic and Financial Penal Center in Abidjan. It was the former commander of the San Pedro anti-banditry brigade who was questioned.
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With our correspondent in Abidjan, Bineta Diagne
Small black glasses on his nose, orange chasuble stamped with the word “detainee”, Dosso Karamoko says he was transferred to San Pedro at the end of 2021. As soon as he arrived in the port city, he increased his contacts to get to know the key personalities of the city … This is how César Ouattara, a co-defendant, introduced him to Miguel Devesa, who presents himself as the mastermind of this drug trafficking affair.
At the helm, Dosso Karamoko admits to having received nearly two million FCFA, batteries and a generator for his personal projects. Gifts that he describes as “ acts of kindness » from this Spanish entrepreneur.
Was the police commissioner aware of Miguel Devesa’s illicit activities? What did he promise her in return? Why did he provide a police officer to escort him to Abidjan? Faced with persistent questions, the defendant seems to have difficulty convincing the prosecution and the court, who point out a series of “ curiosities » : « never in our conversations did we talk about drugs », Retorts the commissioner, who denies any link in this affair.
The case dates back to April 2022: the police had seized two tonnes of cocaine in Abidjan and San Pedro (southwest). A record seizure, which led to the arrest of several people, including local naval and police officials. The trial started on December 22. In all,Nineteen people and four companies are being prosecutednotably for international drug trafficking.