become the foremost smuggler of the country's rare gems and minerals, raking in over $300 million. Jamil was christened the "Diamond King". By 1971 the President had put an end to the De Beers monopoly at the request of Jamil, who had already managed to acquire 12% of the concession. By 1984 Jamil bought the remaining shares from De Beers. That marked the first time De Beers ever lost a monopoly in Africa. Tommy Taylor-Morgan, the Minister of Finance, warned that Sierra Leone was losing in excess of US$160 million of diamond income annually to diamond smuggling. Corruption and smuggling reached such a level that official diamond production dropped significantly. In 1985 national currency, the Leone was devalued by nearly 60 per cent and foreign exchange became scarce. Between 1968 and 1985 Stevens and Jamil successfully depleted the finances of Sierra Leone until they had rendered one of the world's biggest producers of diamonds and gold the poorest country on earth. In a profile of Jamil, C. Magbaily Fyle in his book "Historical Dictionary of Sierra Leone," writes that "By the end of the 1970s, Jamil was influencing government and ministerial appointments, and he was dreaded, feared or admired, depending on the perceptions of the viewer." In 1978, International Construction Company, a construction company owned by Jamil was given the contract to build a presidential residence by President Stevens Located atop Juba Hill in Freetown and spanning over 25 acres, the construction of Kabassa Lodge took two years months to complete. It was finished in time for the 1980 O.A.U. Summit. In December 1987 Stevens was in London recovering from a stroke. He was to later learn that Jamil had not kept his side of the bargain in all the years they have been associated. In fact the house Stevens was living in, in West London was supposed to have been bought for him by Jamil Said. It turned out this was not the case. It was reported that he told Stevens, he had not put his name [Stevens] on the house to protect him. Stevens reminded him that this was two years after he had resigned from office. Stevens was reported to have confided in his grandson living with him at the house as follows: "that man has used me". "God go pay him" The Palestine Liberation Organization connections So great was Jamil's influence that he managed to persuade