DRUG AGENCY TOUTS SUCCESS, BURNS NARCOTICS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001264 SIPDIS STATE PASS TO DEA FOR OI, OEE, AND NTRE E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2014 TAGS: SNAR PREL NI SUBJECT: DRUG AGENCY TOUTS SUCCESS, BURNS NARCOTICS Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 B and D ¶1. (U) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command, and Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Special Area Command hosted a destruction of illegal drugs on August 4. Almost 11.3 tons (11,469 kilograms) were set ablaze, including 139 Kg of cocaine, 78 Kg of heroine, 9,151 Kg of cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp),and 17 Kg of other psychotropics. (This brings the total amount of seized drugs destroyed throughout the country over the last 5 years to 93.5 tons.) ¶2. (U) In his address to the gathering, NDLEA Chairman Bello Lafiagi declared the continued seizures of illegal substances were "clear proof" of the NDLEA's efficacy in stemming illegal drug trafficking. However, he also stressed the fight against drug trafficking would be a long one; he used the occasion to request continued support from Nigerian society. The Chairman also acknowledged support from international collaborators, including the UN Office for Drugs and Crimes, the US DEA, the British Customs Service, the German BKA, and the South African Police, in particular. ¶3. (C) Comment: The seizure and destruction of the drugs are commendable. However, this highly publicized event does not make amends for the continuing gaps in Nigeria's anti-narcotics regimen. Several senior NDLEA officials acknowledge the need to more vigorously target key players in trafficking organizations. MMIA Special Area Commander Abdullah Abubakar Danburam highlighted the difficulty of penetrating the multiple layers of a drug organization and of going beyond the low-level couriers to getting the real architects of these networks. Toward this objective, DEA will be encouraging the NDLEA to agree to revive the joint DEA-NDLEA task force, which had some investigative success in the mid-90's, in order to increase cooperation between the two organizations and to serve as the primary mechanism for operations against key traffickers. End comment. BROWNE