Nigeria Investigation Exposes Epstein and Former Israeli PM's Secret Security Deals
A detailed investigation by Drop Site News has uncovered how the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak covertly pursued commercial interests in Nigeria, leveraging the country's security vulnerabilities. The report, based on internal emails from the United States Department of Justice, reveals a decade-long collaboration focused on selling advanced surveillance and biometric technologies.
Exploiting Conflict Zones for Market Entry
Internal emails indicate that Epstein and Barak targeted Nigeria's security sector by marketing tools tested in conflict zones, including Palestinian territories. Nigeria's struggles with violent extremism and weak digital safeguards provided a fertile ground for their ventures. In a 2014 exchange, Epstein remarked on global instability, asking Barak, "Isn't this perfect for you?" Barak responded that transforming such opportunities into cash flow was "not simple," framing unrest as leverage for security sales.
Surveillance Projects and Sovereignty Concerns
The investigation found that biometric and surveillance systems, described as "field-proven," were promoted to Nigerian authorities, with technology mirroring systems used at the Gaza border. An early project involved biometric monitoring at Babcock University, presented as counter-terrorism and campus safety measures. Documents show these security deals opened pathways to broader economic ambitions, including involvement in a World Bank-supported program shaping Nigeria's national cyber framework by 2020.
Political Access and Economic Expansion
Epstein acted as a broker in maritime and logistics discussions, facilitating contacts between DP World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem and Nigerian sovereign wealth officials, focusing on potential port control in Lagos and Badagry. The correspondence revealed extensive political reach, with a 2013 cybersecurity conference in Abuja used as a pretext to secure a meeting with then-president Goodluck Jonathan. Despite legislative resistance, these connections eased controversial internet monitoring contracts tied to Israeli defence firms.
Lasting Implications and Regrets
Barak has since expressed regret over his association with Epstein, but the investigation portrays a deliberate strategy where military intelligence tools were commercialized. Nigeria's internal security challenges became a means for private wealth accumulation, raising concerns about national autonomy. Earlier reports also indicated Epstein's interest in trading Nigeria's crude oil, fearing fraud, as shown in 2010 email correspondence with David Stern.
