AVIATION SECURITY OFFICIALS SACKED OVER DRUG

UNCLAS ABUJA 001265

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INL/AAE AF/W
LAGOS FOR CG, INL AND DEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM EAIR PREL PINR NI
SUBJECT: AVIATION SECURITY OFFICIALS SACKED OVER DRUG
INCIDENT



1. UNCLASSIFIED - ENTIRE TEXT.


2. The Nigerian press reported May 26 that two top aviation
security officials were sacked "over drug trafficking."
According to the reports, Captain Alhaji Balarabe Usman,
Director of Aviation Security at the Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Bello Ochega, the FAAN
General Manager for Security were relieved for "aiding and
abetting drug carriers through the Lagos airport."


3. According to DEA Lagos, two low level FAAN security
officers at MMIA Lagos recently escorted two drug couriers
directly to their plane, bypassing security and narcotics
screening. The four were apprehended by NDLEA officals and
are awaiting trial. Apparently, however, according to DEA
CA, when Aviation Minister Babalola Borishade mentioned the
incident to President Obasanjo, the president himself
ordered that Usman and Ochega be sacked. At this point, no
further action relating to this incident is anticipated.


4. Informed sources, both in and out of aviation, who know
Usman well, insisted to INL LEA over the weekend that they
would be shocked if Usman had any involvement in narcotics
trafficking. One source, a Nigerian pilot, averred that the
incident may have been contrived to discredit Usman and
precipitate his removal. The same source claimed that it
would be impossible for FAAN personnel to circumvent NDLEA
screening without NDLEA cooperation. Since the couriers and
escorts were apprehended, he may be right. He added that
until dogs were employed at the airports, narcotics would
pass freely in both directions - with the assistance of
NDLEA officers. Campbell