Diplomats for Sale | Al Jazeera Investigations

How much would you pay for diplomatic immunity? The trade in Caribbean diplomatic passports has become a magnet for wealthy foreigners, corrupt businessmen and criminals from around the world. Al Jazeera exposes two prime ministers who are complicit in the deals. The investigation reveals details of how an oil smuggler, turned ambassador, turned international fugitive bought his way into the diplomatic class. Investigators go undercover to reveal the inner-workings of a secret system: to find out how much it costs and what it takes to purchase what’s become the ultimate luxury item; a diplomatic passport.
40:18 - [Correction] Syrian businessman Moudar Al Assad is the cousin of current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and not his nephew.
Credit/Attribution
17:59 Photo of Francesco Corallo courtesy of Curacao Chronicle
04:43 Song ‘MyDominicatradehouse.com’ by King Dice
51:54 Song ‘Jumbie Money’ by King Dice
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[@mtklima]

Excellent piece of investigative journalism. CNN or FOX would never do this.

[@ablegrowth5139]

well done and thank you very much, Al Jazeera

[@ruthmelicharles5062]

Even the local media in the respective countries won't report on this.

[@RainbowInBloom]

@@ruthmelicharles5062 not true !

[@IvorMorris]

Ruthmeli Charles the local media actually does this in the island here. Yes I am sure of the problem is, the government likes to shame the local private media companies. In Antigua since taking off the Prime Minister has set up his own media house, radio station, newly released newspaper and soon to come TV station to act as his mouth piece.

[@shadegamu9747]

Yes because they (cnn /Fox) are full of morons

[@owliealim745]

"A people who elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims...but accomplices!" ~ George Orwell

[@vincentconti3633]

Nice!

[@sqwale7]

If you live in country like this and mine you know your vote doesn't count people steal elections. Short of burning down these countries in riots these people wont leave.

[@kimthor3903]

Well said

[@jahleeldrigo745]

Well its spilt milk at this point.They put out this documentary a week before the Dominica election which is on the 6th (tomorrow). Now its clear that both parties are corrupt...Would you recommend they not vote this time? I gonna need to keep up with this story. smh

[@usa7530]

They do that became of money not knowing it's theirs

[@ricktandron3669]

Excellent, outstanding. Truth to power. The world stands by authentic journalism like this. Kudos.

[@colindenoon9605]

This is an excellent piece of investigative journalism!

[@mr.impatient4850]

Now this is what I call true journalism... bravo dear team. Keep up the good work.

[@notsure5698]

and yet they do not investigate their own corruption.... Bravo for more double standards.

[@ositaehiabhi6324]

​@@notsure5698 may be you should do one on them .😮

[@Def03jasm]

Al Jazeera you just threw shade on the whole election process of a country lol, we need more of this. I wish you could do the same for many other countries, good investigation. I'm from Malawi btw

[@backto-il9ne]

And when will Al Jazeera throw shade on the election process in Qatar? ***sips tea***

[@farzana6676]

Lol, they should tell us about the election process in Qatar.

[@pinkfloyd364]

Is there elections even being held In the island of terrorists qatar

[@pinkfloyd364]

@@backto-il9ne hahaha exactly

[@juniorh9238]

@@pinkfloyd364 Ouch! Attacking the Messenger?! Can't attack the message, I suppose!

[@trishaeusebe5885]

Well done Al Jazeera.

[@campianadam2627]

I became aware of this when a popular former Nigerian petroleum minister obtained a diplomatic passport inorder to escape prosecution and corruption charges against her... now she serves as a special assistant to the president in Dominica.

[@kenduzouir]

Unique TV: You are very correct this particular person is responsible for the disappearing of billions of dollars oils money from the national purse.

[@memyself5412]

And she is orginally from the region most affected by oil explorations in Nigeria - Niger-Delta. The region has no good hospitals, no drinkable water and the fishing industry is almost dead due to years of toxic waste dumping into the waterways. Their air is heavily polluted and cancer rates among residents are at all time high. The elites of this world are just callous!

[@TemplarX2]

Brilliant piece of journalism here.

[@themreiso]

Another word for bribery - "Token of appreciation"

[@ProbotX-eo5ln]

Well, it got a nice vibe to it...... Afterall they dislike strong words like bribery and corruption.

[@Khotsa]

😂

[@EmanuelMonte99]

it was better to make programm about British Bay of Guantanamo, where Julian Assange lives there.

[@abomejohn]

I love it..!

[@abduljalilmahama5682]

Facts

[@Ankitd70]

applauses, al jazeera, finest piece of journalism. crisp and clear.

[@shitushehuusman1289]

When diplomatic passport becomes purchasable item, then No one anywhere is safe... Harmful drugs, chemicals, bombs and any other criminality will be the norm... We need to feel safe and these countries need to be sanctioned

[@randallfe]

They’ve always been for sale

[@ablegrowth5139]

very good comment.

[@shitushehuusman1289]

​@@randallfe As much as hate to admit it, but it true... The worst is selling to foreigners by poor countries...

[@sophiaellis7257]

Andrewa

[@vincentconti3633]

@@randallfe nothing new under the sun! Thousands of years of goin' on!

[@ousmanabbakassoum1341]

That's Journalism!!! Thanks for this documentary, it reminds me the Maldives investigation which I would recommend to watch.

[@matts4684]

The Maldives investigation took me here.

[@searchrankoptimize]

@@matts4684 same here!

[@Olivia-rm6si]

I will go there from here lol

[@flynnrider4354]

The Maldives investigation was good but the Namibian Expose/Investigation is even better as it has a whistleblower, complete with paper trails and the corrupt officials were caught red handed in video recordings. It’s so satisfying to see those corrupt officials squirm when they got confronted with undeniable evidences against them

[@unpreeable]

as a Grenadian, i'm ashamed by this.

[@user-dd4onX]

This situation is perhaps worse in Antigua and St kitts Nevis. Shady Diplomats sponsoring everything.

[@TheSuperi9]

also as a Grenadian i am also ashamed by this.

[@cerdocyonthous7970]

you should not be. do you think really that the qataris, or brits or americans don't do the same?

[@TheSense13]

@@cerdocyonthous7970 That is not a reason to not be ashamed...Just because other countries are doing it doesn't make it right or any less embarrassing.

[@samlsd9711]

They have no men ? no men fighting for the rights and wrongs?

[@MrRynRules]

Well done! This is journalism.

[@johngrisum]

Always remember that the hosting country has to accept them as having diplomatic status BEFORE they enter the country. They can also hold them persona non grata and require that the diplomat leave whenever the hosting country wishes. Diplomatic status is not unlimited.

[@kingcreations.4462]

very true talk

[@katwalkable]

Can Al Jazeera investigate US corruption? Starting with Trump and his oligarchs?

[@charitybatzlen6473]

Sadly this is the reality all over African countries. Great journalism!! Very impressive!

[@davidserville1634]

Wow that’s a great plot for a Netflix movie. Love to hear what happened to all the characters over the next 20 years. Great investigation Aljazeera.

[@waynesworld686]

They exposed Namibias fishing industry which is filled with corruption, and the whole country loves loves AL Jazeera for their good work. They should come and investigate corruption in the mining industry as well. God bless

[@peterbradshaw8018]

This happens in the USA big contributors to the parties get ambassadorships to different countries .

[@thesaint9286]

This has been going on for decades, I used to work for TNT Express World Wide and I used to handle a lot of diplomatic cargo in Mumbai, India. One would be surprised at the amount of stuff getting through, though we could not open the bags or scan them officially, we did it any way to see what was in them and when we scanned it, that was a jaw opener, gold, cash, drugs (sniffer dogs could smell it a mile away) and what not... FINALLY SOMEONE HAD THE COURAGE TO DO A PIECE ON THIS ILLICIT TRADE

[@oluwadamilarebolatito2778]

Wow

[@faithfultoyeshua4576]

They will say it's business.

[@steinarjonsson_]

So you violated the Vienna Convention? That's not great, but interesting findings.

[@pieterveenders9793]

@@steinarjonsson_ Considering what was being smuggled, I don't think he has that much to worry about. If it were to come out there would be too much embarassment to go after OP anyway.

[@itz_SahilAhmad]

Are you from india ?

[@mugibraju3595]

Politicians forget themselves as human beings.

[@missfyn123]

Yet they have body guards & ambulances to follow them ... sad

[@dermotcorbin6795]

Human beings! They are self serving egotistical Scumm! They work for the Corpirate Private Bankers".

[@midlifeparty]

@@missfyn123 they live in a false sense of security yet only display paranoia. Crank up their fear.

[@charlienorway]

Corruption is so deep in all governments. We don’t even know!

[@r334dhbhk6]

Great job Al Jazeera 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@IvorMorris]

Y’all need to do one on Antigua

[@missfyn123]

While @ it... add Kenya & Nigeria to the list

[@SomaliPeninsula]

Brilliant investigative journalism as always Al Jazeera

[@clarenceedwards2866]

As a Caribbean person this is an embarrassment to all of our people. Money truly answereth all things but I still believe that there is a red line that should not be crossed when it comes to the things that we would do for the sake of money.

[@harveysmith100]

Don't worry, I am British and our government have been in bed with the corrupt Russians for years. Rather embarrassing at the moment

[@notsure5698]

how silly are you to think monopoly money is the answer to our problems. the inequality money has created between states/individual people.. allowed corrupted people to consolidate power.. stealing what's left of your pride/honor/integrity, yet you still defend your crack addiction?

[@catherinetrotman5855]

I'm a Caribbean person,and I'm not embarrased, maybe you place these people in too high esteem.They are in the job to flourish personally,not for the people.

[@dropshipincanada]

this happens in every country bro

[@nyashab4276]

Some brilliant journalism here

[@annileeabuyan]

Your investigative reports are excellent!!! 👌👌👌

[@mubopo]

Democracy, like "Faith" and "Poverty", has its many windows from which one can gaze through! The most flawed system of governance is "Democracy"! I don't know whether I made sense with that claim. But having watched many investigations on your channel, I see some superpowers that simply do not dance to the same tune or rather walk their own talk! The saddest thing in all these is that the ones most affected are the citizens of the nations. When I see a street hawker or a woman/man selling her produce at a stand on a bustling street; I think these people to be the real MVPs of a nation because they truly earn an honest income! Always great to watch your investigations.

[@jacobshyatt2257]

Great report and this diplomatic status becomes a business to maintain corrupt behavior of the elite class. Where is Haiti in this report. I read a lot of the foreigner nationals in Haiti, esp those in the private sector, have honoree diplomatic status.

[@Joseluz1969]

Amazing investigation, very good undercover work, nice format chosen for the documentary. Great job, Aljazeera.

[@aliyahsapphire2813]

Uk what’s funny? Labourites and Workers will cut their neck before they hold these men accountable🙄

[@alexperryman23]

Labourites will*, Workers gave everybody fire while the leader cleared up the situation

[@Reoescobar]

Labourrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[@onielwright9800]

U8uucup

[@lashersquirrelslayer]

USA does the same thing except its usually family, close friends, or high donations. A Country should be able to pick whosoever they please.

[@BicycleFunk]

Even better would be to eliminate politicians entirely and transition to a sortition system.

[@rikulappi9664]

It has been known to me for some years that you actually can buy valid diplomatic passports. The price is high, but not astronomical.

[@Blaqrosse]

AL JAZEERA, WHEN WILL YOU COME TO ZIMBABWE???? WE NEED YOU IN ZIMBABWE i loved the expose of the Namibian fisheries.. Brilliant work!

[@orangeninja912]

Hear hear

[@rohitsingh-dd4xo]

Great work by Al Jazeera

[@eduardovieira5286]

Corruption is a big business And always will be unfortunately It's the world that we live until the day...

[@rebelglory5898]

Eduardo how dare they be able to afford the tools required to have more freedom then the rest of us who can't even keep our own rights. How dare they use this thing called money to buy back their rights, and the dignity we all so rarely share. Instead of hating and wallowing over the state of the world, smell the direction of its wind, and join its ranks.

[@chuanlu]

The same thing happens in the US. Donors to the President’s election are appointed as ambassadors.

[@charlescanzater]

Thank you for speaking truth to power !

[@lanapaul5393]

Well said....I would rather cut my finger than vote

[@dareenjimb]

lie i still voting labour

[@jankauffmann6899]

Even if they offered me a diplomatic position for free, I would not have my name associated with people like that.

[@ablegrowth5139]

well said.

[@संदिपमांडे-य1य]

Let them make an offer to you first then we will sew

[@RainbowInBloom]

People like what? They're all the same. And nobody's offering, so...

[@eusebiusbob702]

Get out of here that's the world we leave in its your lost do you think you are a sent say you will get it but do thinks with a difrence take the passport make the money and help some one in need I will take it any day any time make the dirty money and help some one poor who do you think is free not you my friend change your mind set

[@trevorssesanga2905]

Another classic from aljazeera, loved it

[@festusmichira2727]

Very good piece of investigative journalism 👏

[@MayaBishopStan]

Ofcourse, a Nigerian must always be involved 😒😡

[@OTaNi7]

Great journalism by Al Jazeera. Keep it up

[@jeremiasrobinson]

Sonderland comes to mind when I read this title.

[@davidlang5461]

Taa Daa

[@ghostdna8155]

They are going after small beans sounds like they set him up he did what the rest do.

[@jeremiasrobinson]

@@ghostdna8155 Was that sentence written by predictive text? It makes no sense at all.

[@shaffie]

Excellent and incredible work. Bravo🤝

[@TheDutchSoupPissingCompany]

Very good documentary ...thanks!

[@akhonam8625]

Fantastic journalism!

[@Dowlphin]

It seems it would need a meritocracy to do background checks on people holding offices. It should be the norm, but is an exception in all kinds of areas, including for example when The Intercept employs a new contributor. People vote for crooks and then other(?) people try to bring them to justice. Maybe the people who don't care about their country enough and elect crooks needs to be brought to justice. Imagine how things would change then. When money wins elections, it meant the people care too much about money. Compare all this to the USA were highest-ranking politicians are admitting their bribery/blackmail schemes publicly on TV. (e.g. Joe Biden) 43:50 Since when is "Italian American" a nationality? All in all this documentary, together with a lot of other material, indicates how much crookedness is tied to money where is amasses and that you have to suspect bad karma wherever it does. Where everybody has enough, there is good karma. Where some have too much, only bad. ( As I often say: *Corruption is a grassroots movement.* ) Don't belive a word a politician says especially during campaigning. Track record is important, and better make sure you got truthful information about that.

[@kerrymarris4260]

Their all corrupted all of government is currupt currupt currupt... And I'll say it very very loud and proud.. Kerry Grant luvs mother earth and not pludoctats fracking narssistic psyopathic autocrats.

[@shadanasheim4153]

Salute AlJazeera youl all folks can investegate the most delicate setuation.

[@pbure94]

Absolutely fascinating. Great job Al Jazeera!

[@bubbamacks4896]

Well done Al Jaz on the good journalismz!!@

[@MiniM69]

Yes, diplomats abusing their position to enrich themselves is abhorrent and worth thorough investigation but the US has a president who does the same thing, so sadly, this isn’t shocking.

[@fionaphillips3458]

Many people are highly appreciated.

[@funlife3397]

Good information.

[@ahmedomerismail7730]

Fascinating investigation

[@keniacharles5902]

What I gather especially in relation to the Commonwealth of Dominica is that both the PM and the Leader of the opposition is prone to corruption. Sad!

[@steveirungu3132]

Excellent journalism by al jezeera by Steve Irungu Jermaine

[@netvisionz]

Canada, the US and the UK also have the same citizenship by investment programs, however they go by different names. They accept money for business owners to migrate, open a business and get citizenship along with their families.

[@advancedassessment6974]

But Canada , UK, and America do not give foreigners diploma status..... That is just stupid and selfish to give foreigners diploma status instead of people in your own country. And the prime ministers take the bribes and put into private puckets instead of developing their country and helping the people of their country. These black countries will never learn to help their on people.

[@netvisionz]

ADVANCED ASSESSMENT are you serious? You’re trying to tell me you don’t see all of the political corruption in first world countries that are trying to police everyone else? Look at the US. They elected someone they knew was racist, corrupt and fraudulent as president and still want to look at everyone else’s business.

[@globetrotter347]

There is truth in this. A famous case happened in Dubai, UAE. A Palestinian man named, Khalid Meshal was killed in a Dubai hotel. The killers were Israelis' carrying UK passports. How did they get valid UK passports?

[@oluwadamilarebolatito2778]

@@globetrotter347 it possible when you migrate legally ... you'll get a valid passport

[@Cap10bp]

A masterpiece of the investigation in the history of the journalism 👍

[@lcplfrancois]

That was Awesome Reporting

[@ZhenyaTyoma]

excellent work. Unfortunately not many people may watch it or understand

[@kemelistic]

If we begin to see such investigations of corruption in the USA, UK, France, then it will make sense instead of focusing only on poor countries who do less than 5% of corruption in UK etc

[@kennedycharles5796]

Will there be a part 2 to this investigation?

[@ruthmelicharles5062]

Absolute power does corrupt absolutely.

[@anwornation3399]

this seikings my spirit that's my homeland

[@michaellantoine2878]

I think there is much more to be released from Al TV....

[@JA-vx6gy]

Great programme!

[@belindadennis7054]

Praying for Dominica

[@daal7767]

This is quality journalism

[@svampebob007]

"unless you're really hot... the price could be 1 million" Aw shit...I forgot I had to pay for gas, I guess I won't be getting my 30 dollar diplomatic pass :(

[@nanaakwasiabrokwa690]

Al Jazeera you are the best among all.

[@pinkfloyd364]

This documentary makes me wonder what the Qatari emir does, you should investigate that too

[@samlsd9711]

they have no homeless you know, that alone is enough.

[@farhan3296]

@@samlsd9711 funds terrorism, takes away foreign labourers passports the moment they land, puts them in inhuman position, but they have no "homeless" Qataris, so it's all good. Some logic there mate.

[@iswhatitis4040]

No 1 forcing you to watch this documentary... Maybe your country’s news outlet should investigate Qatar , write to them ask them to instead of moaning

[@pinkfloyd364]

@@iswhatitis4040 who are you to tell me what to think or say, mind your own business. I just want to know how can the tiniest nation on the planet be the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the world and still care about democracy? Its ridiculous

[@iswhatitis4040]

Oneofthesedays are these assumptions or facts i really don’t know ... you seem to know it tell us more. Also what they gaining from terrorism ? According to Americans it’s Iran the biggest sponsor , should make your minds up . Maybe stop invading country’s and killing legal leaders i.e Sadam when he was in power there was no terrorists . So maybe USA the biggest sponsor well it is the biggest arms sponsor to terrorism .

[@Leila-hd3vp]

Fantastic journalism

[@nyasimigeoffrey7737]

Fox and Friends are you watching this piece of journalistic excellence?

[@shadowzach00]

same goes for MSNBC and cnn

[@childofyeshuaforever]

Good work Al jazeera 👍👍👍

[@steveirungu3132]

Unfortunately in Kenya due to poor mismanagement and corruption I will never compromise my integrity as a person so help me God in Jesus name Amen by Steve Irungu Jermaine

[@beyourself2444]

George Grant, you’re the best

[@tarickhjoseph2534]

Sadly that’s not shocking. I’m sure Dominicans who continue to support the current PM know this or at least have the feeling that something is wrong... alas he needs to go

[@dareenjimb]

i still voting labour never vote uwp

[@tarickhjoseph2534]

carlos no problem. You have the diplomatic right to choose who you want to vote. No problem

[@waldfee2283]

Oha! Thank you Al Jazeerra!

[@keimel25]

If they were actually taking the money and investing it in the people and country at least there would be some form diginity involved.

[@christopherseton-smith7404]

In what way is this different from the appointment of many of the ambassadors of the USA?

[@genevieveakinwumi6674]

Give a million dollars to a political campaign and you can become an ambassador to the EU!😎

[@ablegrowth5139]

sad, disgraceful and true.

[@chesterhector1381]

I am against private funding of elections nevertheless: "An American" gave a publicly published post election "Inaugural " 1 million contribution and became an ambassador of "His country." In this documentary it's all behind shady doors, and THEY ARE ALL FOREIGNERS. Think of this for a few seconds...

[@TheDuke-vb9cq]

Not a new issue. In the 1920's the infamous "Men who tried to steal Portugal", bought the Diplomats themselves. They were used to obtain another delivery of banknotes from Portugal's money printers, De la Rue in England. Their Diplomatic status convincing De la Rue it was a genuine order from the Bank of Portugal, used the "lie" that the previous delivery had sunk in Lisbon Harbour. So this new batch of banknotes used the same numbers as the previous delivery, because that had supposedly sunk. Very Clever for the 1920's. The crooks who also included two members of staff in the Bank of Portugal itself, planned to use the new delivery of money to slowly buy up Bank of Portugal shares, until they had a controlling interest. Which would have given them Boardroom positions in the bank, at which point they could have taken over the bank, and basically rob Portugal of most of its money, almost succeeded. Unbeknown to the crooks one of their own was using a few of these banknotes to buy himself cigarettes. As a result some of the notes got into circulation. A sharp eyed bank teller at a local bank was therefore stunned to find two banknotes with the same number on his desk, even though both notes were genuine. This amazing crime involved 22 men including the two Diplomats and two Bank of Portugal staff, and had taken three years to reach the stage when it was uncovered.

[@islezeus]

The thing is most, if not all, countries do this. Why is Al Jazeera only targeting tiny Caribbean islands?

[@ramanathanshankar2691]

Great investigation..

[@niceboy8107]

the same going on in gambia

[@danleymulcare799]

Good work

[@christianopoku7541]

THE WORLD IN DISARRAY INDEED...

[@Tahimate]

Program nicely done.

[@rohandaniel311]

you guys need to investigate the link between our governments and the telecoms and other monopolies here.

[@Nomorehats]

That sting operation was hilarious, what a caricature of criminality. The words banana republic have never been more apt. As an American of Carribbean descent I am truly ashamed.

[@pedicabfilms8791]

homeboy's friends were jealous and snitched...calling him your excellency, was killing them, more than him!!!

[@tonysnow759]

😂😂😂 that's so true

[@pedicabfilms8791]

@@tonysnow759why is that your name. they always got someone with a death mask on replying to me on youtube. my life and my thoughts matter. but yes... truth needs to prevail. without truth, them lies will not exist.

[@tonysnow759]

@@pedicabfilms8791 this is not a death mask it's a space helmet. And my name is taken from a song by UGK called One Day check it out.

[@itsolivier]

first ive heard of this and ive been on this earth 4 different decades

[@amirulafzhan]

6:30 Siti!

[@FameAppeal]

What siti mean?

[@bvrajlal]

Lol, I almost missed that, lucky saw your comment hahahaha! Bet he was paid well too.

[@anthonymanderson7671]

Kudos to Al Jazeera for exposing the truth.

[@youreincredible1648]

Thank you for informing us

[@itsxplicitproductns]

enlighting investigation. Great work Aljazeera