Yes, this really happened. And no, it was not from the other side of a jail cell. In Maputo (the capital of Mozambique) for three days on a school trip, I had the chance to learn Portuguese (an effort which I have kept up with the help of that pesky owl), learn about Mozambique’s role in ending apartheid, and of course, run into a narcotics kingpin who has been on the FBI’s wanted list for the past 12 years.
To provide some backstory, I was sitting in class the week before our departure when my professor mentioned a popular mall in Maputo. Not one who fancies shopping, I quickly zoned out before I heard a phrase that quickly got my attention: “The mall is owned by a wanted drug trafficker who we often see sitting in the corner drinking his coffee.” I was quite confused that a drug lord wanted by the US government would be showing himself in such a public place, and I determined I had to see this for myself.
Fast forward a week, and I’m sitting in my hotel room, hiding out from the scorching Mozambican sun. My classmates and I had just returned from a local market (where I got completely scammed but that’s a story for another day), and we had a couple hours off before dinner. Wanting to maximize my time in Mozambique, I decided to head out for a stroll around the city. Unfortunately, my idea of wandering aimlessly in humid 90 degree weather was not appealing to any of my fellow classmates, and I headed off alone.
After about an hour of walking around to various sites and museums (nearly all of which were closed), I decided to head down to the port for one last look before turning back. As I walked towards the dock, I noticed a state-of-the-art, shiny set of department stores, which stood out in great contrast to the broken sidewalks and run-down buildings composing much of the city. Heading closer, I realized it was none other than the Maputo Shopping Centre, the business venture of the kingpin himself (The US government actually forbids its citizens from doing business here!).
Alone and sticking out like a sore thumb in an African, Portuguese-speaking city, I probably should have just turned back, but at the same time, how many chances are you gonna have to see someone on the FBI’s wanted list? So I headed through the main entrance of the mall, which led into a large courtyard. Dining tables and a deluxe fountain decorated the center of the courtyard, and restaurants and shops surrounded it. Impressed, I took in my surroundings and headed to a table in the middle, keeping an eye out for any suspicious-looking activity. And that’s when I found him.
A middle-aged guy, sitting in the corner, drinking coffee and reading a newspaper. A couple of burly guys in suits sat on either side of him. He certainly didn’t look like a threat, but the sight in front of me matched my professor’s description to the tone. Astounded that I actually managed to find him, I got out my phone to document the evidence, then remembered WHO I was actually taking a picture of, and thought the better of it. I was already beginning to attract attention as a lone foreign guy wearing sunglasses, and I decided to get out of there. At least the memory will live on.
So that’s the story! No, I wasn’t kidnapped or involved in a drug deal, but I hope it was an interesting story nonetheless. For obvious reasons I’m not going to include the name of the person in question, but a quick google search should give you the answer. ‘Til next time!
Want to check out more of Mozambique? Curious to see what it looks like? Look no further!
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