Malam Bacai Sanhá Jr. (born 1971), also known by his nickname “Bacaizinho,” is the son of the late former President of Guinea-Bissau, Malam Bacai Sanhá. While his father was considered a force for stability, the son has lived a far more turbulent life. As of Christmas Day 2025, he is serving an 80-month prison sentence in the United States for orchestrating an international drug trafficking ring to fund a coup d’état in his home country.
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Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Malam Bacai Sanhá Jr. |
| Nickname | Bacaizinho |
| Born | c. 1971, Guinea-Bissau |
| Father | Malam Bacai Sanhá (President from 2009–2012) |
| Current Status | Incarcerated (U.S. Federal Prison) |
| Sentence | 80 Months (approx. 6.5 years) |
| Key Conviction | Conspiracy to distribute heroin for unlawful importation. |
The “Drugs for Coup” Plot
Sanhá Jr. was the leader of a transnational criminal organization that authorities say intended to turn Guinea-Bissau into a “drugs regime.”
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The Ambition: According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Sanhá Jr. planned to use the proceeds from heroin trafficking to fund a military coup that would install him as President of Guinea-Bissau. He intended for his presidency to facilitate a massive, state-protected narcotics hub.
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The Sting: In 2022, he provided 4.7 kilograms of heroin to undercover agents in Lisbon, Portugal, believing the drugs would be smuggled into the United States. He was arrested in Tanzania in July 2022 and subsequently extradited to Texas.
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The Sentence (March 2024): After pleading guilty in late 2023, he was sentenced in Houston to 80 months in federal prison. The judge noted that he wasn’t an ordinary trafficker but a “destabilizing figure” whose activities posed a threat to the safety of both American and African communities.
Connection to the February 2022 Coup
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Admission of Guilt: During his legal proceedings, Sanhá Jr. reportedly bragged to undercover agents that he was a primary financier behind the February 1, 2022, coup attempt in Guinea-Bissau, in which 11 people were killed.
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Failed Execution: He claimed the plot failed only because the coup plotters “initiated the attempt earlier than expected.” His ultimate goal was to overthrow President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, whom he viewed as an obstacle to the drug trade.
Current Status (Late December 2025)
As of December 25, 2025, Malam Bacai Sanhá Jr. remains a prisoner in the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
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Deportation Pending: Upon the completion of his sentence (estimated around 2028–2029), he is scheduled for immediate removal proceedings from the United States.
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Family Name vs. Legacy: His conviction has served as a tragic postscript to his father’s legacy. While the elder Sanhá is remembered for his revolutionary credentials and efforts toward peace, the son is now cited by the international community as the primary example of the “narco-power” that continues to destabilize Guinea-Bissau.
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The 2025 Context: With the most recent military coup in Bissau (November 2025), Sanhá Jr.’s name has resurfaced in regional discussions regarding the persistent links between political power, military transitions, and the illegal narcotics trade in West Africa.