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

[@awake3362]

Detailed investigative journalism. No one can beat Aljazeera at it. Expose them all. Uganda should be next.

[@joemensah9557]

Yes. I used to think the same these reporters pick and choose which stories to tell. they will never expose the US and Europeans as corruption. If you wanna know I will give you examples. In the UK the banks knowingly sold customers irrelevant insurance for years and when they got caught for selling these insurances they were fined and made to pay back over £40 billion to customers. And now these reporters describe that fraudulent act as “mis-sold” policies not fraudulent or corrupt act.. another example. Trump is always referred to by these reporters as “President Trump” not the neo- fascist President Trump for what he does and says. Plus all the accusations of corruption that he is being investigated for. But if this was an African leader they he would be called a Corrupt Dictator by these so- called neutral journalist. Be careful in what they say and don’t believe because they selectively choose to tell some stories and not tell others

[@theadventurebiker]

@@joemensah9557 ^^^ THIS.

[@ooiskeat1]

@@joemensah9557 is that what they call selective brainwashing ?

[@victoriatongun1775]

@@joemensah9557 Well said! They only focus on black countries/black faces. Useless journalism.

[@kanavahooja5134]

Qatar should be next, so should be Saudi, and Pakistan..

[@ricktandron3669]

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

[@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!

[@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

[@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!

[@TemplarX2]

Brilliant piece of journalism here.

[@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 .😮

[@charitybatzlen6473]

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

[@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

[@trishaeusebe5885]

Well done Al Jazeera.

[@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.

[@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!

[@MrRynRules]

Well done! This is journalism.

[@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?

[@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?

[@charlienorway]

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

[@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 ?

[@Ankitd70]

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

[@Joseluz1969]

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

[@annileeabuyan]

Your investigative reports are excellent!!! 👌👌👌

[@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

[@nyashab4276]

Some brilliant journalism here

[@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.

[@r334dhbhk6]

Great job Al Jazeera 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@chuanlu]

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

[@IvorMorris]

Y’all need to do one on Antigua

[@missfyn123]

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

[@shaffie]

Excellent and incredible work. Bravo🤝

[@charlescanzater]

Thank you for speaking truth to power !

[@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

[@lcplfrancois]

That was Awesome Reporting

[@festusmichira2727]

Very good piece of investigative journalism 👏

[@JA-vx6gy]

Great programme!

[@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.

[@rohitsingh-dd4xo]

Great work by Al Jazeera

[@akhonam8625]

Fantastic journalism!

[@youreincredible1648]

Thank you for informing us

[@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.

[@kennedycharles5796]

Will there be a part 2 to this investigation?

[@Cap10bp]

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

[@OTaNi7]

Great journalism by Al Jazeera. Keep it up

[@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

[@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.

[@danleymulcare799]

Good work

[@ramanathanshankar2691]

Great investigation..

[@queenofthewhores]

Every country does it. How did you think Sondland got his position. A 1 million dollar donation to trump

[@johnnosiennek7066]

It still doesn't make it right !!!!

[@queenofthewhores]

never said it was. My issue is that this vid tries to paint it as if only caribbean countries do this. America and Canada do it too. It's called economic citizenship

[@johnnosiennek7066]

We never heard of H Clintons donations ..then she didn't win so no news mileage

[@ArtSmosh1274]

@@queenofthewhores Focus is on the carribean obviously for this vid you can check other vids if you want corruption for those areas

[@topgunkilla2]

Sondland is American. None of these ambassadors ever set foot on Dominica.

[@shadanasheim4153]

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

[@Tahimate]

Program nicely done.

[@ZhenyaTyoma]

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

[@lanapaul5393]

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

[@carlosmendez3115]

lie i still voting labour

[@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

[@stephendufe7838]

Great job

[@tumankalita]

Excellent work 😅👍

[@wimderix]

Very good documentary ...thanks!

[@trevorssesanga2905]

Another classic from aljazeera, loved it

[@SomaliPeninsula]

Brilliant investigative journalism as always Al Jazeera

[@Leila-hd3vp]

Fantastic journalism

[@MayaBishopStan]

Ofcourse, a Nigerian must always be involved 😒😡

[@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.

[@MidasGoldKing]

Excellent!

[@bubbamacks4896]

Well done Al Jaz on the good journalismz!!@

[@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.

[@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.

[@ricktandron3669]

great video. great.

[@chivirakmeth8879]

Thank you for the documentary and Politician go so far just for their own Benefit.

[@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.

[@user-zl1nj8ye5g]

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

[@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

[@daal7767]

This is quality journalism

[@fionaphillips3458]

Many people are highly appreciated.

[@funlife3397]

Good information.

[@michaellantoine2878]

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

[@stevennicholas5472]

What is the opening piece of music? Sounds like The XX.

[@ahmedomerismail7730]

Fascinating investigation

[@islezeus]

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

[@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!

[@nanaakwasiabrokwa690]

Al Jazeera you are the best among all.

[@jufridon9043]

Thank you aljazeera nice video

[@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

[@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.

[@alexd.1091]

Excellent piece of investigative journalism - except for the non-stop, non-necessary and non-relevant background music.

[@aliceward884]

Thank you Aljazeera for for a great piece of resurrection truth expose. Great job keep them coming by the great power of the Almighty God. Let truth and justice prevail.

[@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.

[@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 .

[@younasdar4183]

Nailed it

[@9ibusiness]

Greetings. Has this channel ever taken a look at the Dwight York case in the US?

[@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 :(

[@niceboy8107]

the same going on in gambia

[@donpwel4c421]

I would like to see an update on this episode. 🔥💰🔥🇩🇲♿️

[@childofyeshuaforever]

Good work Al jazeera 👍👍👍

[@nyasimigeoffrey7737]

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

[@shadowzach00]

same goes for MSNBC and cnn

[@ruthmelicharles5062]

Absolute power does corrupt absolutely.

[@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.

[@aminaalhassandiasso1842]

Please who knows the title of the last song.

[@rohandaniel311]

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

[@pbure94]

Absolutely fascinating. Great job Al Jazeera!

[@itsolivier]

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

[@ssekyanzirobert9401]

Where can one obtain a full list of his or her country's ambassadors to foreign countries ?