Businessmen involved in Cocaine trafficking in Côte d’Ivoire soon to be released?
Africa News Broadcast 
By Jeune Afrique, Jeune Afrique
While the investigation into a major drug-trafficking network between South America, Côte d’Ivoire, and Europe has concluded, whether some of the main suspects are guilty has not yet been formally established.
The businessmen arrested as part of the investigation into cocaine trafficking between Côte d’Ivoire, Europe, and South America are still being held in pre-trial detention as their lawyers’ requests for their release have all been rejected.
The economic and financial division of the Court of First Instance of Abidjan-Plateau closed the investigation at the end of December. Since then, a trial has been pending.
According to the investigation, several suspects – including businessmen Richard Ghorayeb, Dominique Amata, and Hussein Taan – seem to have been exonerated, while some grey areas remain regarding certain financial flows and real estate acquisitions.
Bank accounts
As this type of transaction is often carried out in cash in Côte d’Ivoire, making is very difficult to prove.
Connections with some of the cocaine network’s pillars, dismantled in April 2022, such as the Spaniard Miguel Angel Devesa Mera and his compatriots José Maria Muniz Cadabal or Picabea Carnes Aitor, could not be proven either.
Investigators suspect that the businessmen often engaged in money laundering connected to cocaine trafficking.
The bank accounts of the businessmen were audited without success although one of the suspects was questioned about several financial transactions between Côte d’Ivoire and France. These money transfers were made through the members of a WhatsApp group known as “Le Cartelâ€.
Brotherly relief
Freemasons working under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Côte d’Ivoire (GLCI) have welcomed these latest developments with relief. The Franco-Ivorian Richard Ghorayeb and the Frenchman Dominique Amata were influential members of the GLCI before their memberships were suspended in June 2022 due to their imprisonment.
The release of the businessmen is imminent if the justice system does not decide to remand them until the trial. The investigation, in which Interpol and Western intelligence services participated, did not allow for the unmasking of local bigwigs, except for a few members of the security forces. Those arrested have also remained in custody.
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