The Secret Files Released!!!!

….Scales’s Firsthand Experience About Africa’s Con Artists!!!

Dear Mr. Editor,      

During my early months in The Gambia, I was approached by two rather colourful Gentlemen from Sierra Leone ,dressed in rich African regalia and claiming to be Royal Princes. They said that they had heard that I was approachable and someone who could be trusted. They were accompanied by a young lady who was perhaps not to brightly dressed, but I remember her warm smile and her quiet and polite manner. They asked for a private meeting and I took them to my hotel room. I asked if they had eaten and ordered a three course meal for each by room service. We chatted pleasantly and ate together. I was intrigued by what should bring them in front of me. But by then I had learned the African way of patience and polite and reassuring conversation before getting to the point.

Once the meal had finished,  I was agasped to find the taller Prince produce several diamonds from underneath his tongue. This after devouring quite an extensive and heavy meal.  The novel " King Solomons Mines"  by Ryder Haggard immediately sprung to mind......

They explained that their people owned Gold and Diamond Mines and had fled the civil war, walking Hundreds of miles leading people to rest in a refugee camp outside Freetown. Within that camp buried underground was much Gold and Diamonds which they wanted to exchange for food and medicine.  And that they were tasked to find someone who could arrange this from the U.K. Of course their are many scams in Africa and I was aware of most. But somehow I felt this was a genuine plea for humanitarian assistance.

The young lady’s  presence intrigued me as she didn’t seem to fit the picture. I asked what position she had in these proceedings. She said that she was the guide and had searched me out and informed the Prince. She was merely a messenger. Some days later, she came to my hotel and asked me down to reception where we spoke. Her tale was harrowing. She was married with one small 6 months old baby girl. She recanted how the rebels had entered her village one  early morning and rounded up all the men. Those who wouldn't join the rebels were shot or macheted.  Her face changed as she recorded how several armed rebels entered her home and shot her husband, then grabbed the little girl by the ankles and smashed her skull against the wall. They then gang raped her and left her for dead. She had made it to The Gambia along with some other friends and were not living too well.

I said I would make some enquiries when I returned to The U.K. but pointed out I wouldn't know how I could possibly arrange this without the British Government’s help. But I would try.

During my liaison with my contact at Trade Partners, I was warned of the likelihood that this was probably a scam. But I proceeded to find out what would have to be done. The first problem was an export licence from Freetown at a cost of £50,000. The second was the value added tax on entry to the U.K. and the third who would buy it and at what price. The fourth problem was how do you ship it to the U.K.? It would have required the chartering of an aircraft to do the return journey with the supplies needing customs clearance and security.

The total shipment inventory was worth over 3 million pounds.

Sadly, I heard that The Taller Prince had been knifed and his life was placed as critical. The second Prince had been kidnapped but released unharmed in Senegal. Their goods had been removed along with the valuables by armed robbers.

Some 3 months later, I received a fax from Freetown from the young lady. It said I have spent my last coins sending this...please reply ...we are desperate.

I replied immediately but their was no further response. This story still haunts me ....For those who would think of violence as the solution to Africa's problems...You must be quite mad!!

 I remain Michael..U.K.