Portuguese judicial authorities have formally charged Dinisia Reis Embaló, the wife of Guinea-Bissau’s recently ousted president, in connection with an ongoing investigation into large-scale money laundering and smuggling.
The charges stem from a high-stakes incident on Sunday, December 14, 2025, involving a suspicious flight from Bissau that landed in Lisbon under a misleading “military” classification.
According to a statement from the Portuguese Judicial Police (PJ), the investigation was triggered by an anonymous tip-off regarding a passenger on the same flight as the First Lady. This individual – identified by Portuguese public broadcaster RTP as Tito Gomes Fernandes, a businessman with close ties to the deposed president – was arrested upon arrival after authorities discovered €5 million ($5.9 million) in undeclared cash in his possession.
While the First Lady was not immediately detained, the PJ confirmed her formal status as a suspect (arguida), linking her directly to the illicit transport of the funds.
The scandal breaks as Guinea-Bissau remains in a state of political turmoil. Former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló fled the country last month after a military takeover, eventually seeking refuge in the Republic of the Congo.
Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel addressed the incident on Tuesday, noting that while the judicial investigation is independent, the Portuguese government remains in contact with Bissau authorities to encourage a return to constitutional order.
Critics of the former administration suggest that the cash haul may represent state assets being moved abroad during the chaotic transition of power. The “High Military Command” currently ruling in Bissau has seized upon the news, using it to bolster their claims that the previous regime was mired in corruption and “narco-economic” activity.
