Foreign Affairs
In the Department of Foreign Affairs, McBride served as Director in charge of the Directorate for South East Asia, as the Department's representative at the National Intelligence Estimates Board (NIEB), and then as Director: Operational Services. In 2001 McBride was appointed as Head of Consular and Agency Services, and also served on the Immigrations Advisory Board.
On 9 March 1998, McBride, then a high-ranking official in the Department of Foreign Affairs, was arrested by the Mozambican police in Ressano Garcia on charges of gun running from Mozambique to South Africa, despite an attempt to run for the border. He was about to receive 50 AK-47 rifles and 100 Makarov pistols. He maintained he was investigating the arms smuggling trade while working with the South African National Intelligence Agency (NIA). After a period in detention, all charges were "mysteriously" dropped. Inkatha Freedom Party head Mangosuthu Buthelezi suggested the weapons had been meant for assassins to target IFP leaders with.
In 1999, McBride faced an assault charge after underworld figure Cyril Beeka and another man he was visiting an escort agency with allegedly assaulted a employee.
McBride was also involved in the Irish Peace Process and was held up by IRA/ Sinn Féin leader Martin McGuinness as an example of a former combatant who moved on to a leadership role following the settlement in South Africa.
Read more about this topic: Robert McBride (police Officer)
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