ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING LIBERIAN DIPLOMATIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000012

SIPDIS

DEA HQS FOR OC,OI,OEE,OSE,OIE
SECSTATE FOR INL/LP,AF/W
ROME FOR RD BENSON AND ARD PASQUARELLO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/5/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINR SNAR NI
SUBJECT: ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING LIBERIAN DIPLOMATIC
PERSONNEL


Classified By: DEA CA SAM GAYE FOR REASON 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary: Over the past several months, DEA CA Sam
Gaye received information from reliable sources regarding
diplomatic personnel assigned to the Liberian Embassy in
Nigeria. According to sources, Liberian diplomats are
involved in a wide range of improper activities, including
the use of diplomatic vehicles to transport narcotics between
Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana. Nigeria-based diplomats
allegedly have used their diplomatic cover to facilitate the
clearing of shipments for Nigerian criminal organizations.
These diplomats allegedly have conspired with Liberian
criminal gangs to use Liberian diplomatic plates in order to
take stolen vehicles out of Nigeria to Benin, Togo and Ghana
for sale. End summary


2. (C) According to sources, Liberian Embassy Charge Rolland
Bedell and First Secretary Varney Jackson are using their
position to facilitate criminal activity. Bedell and Jackson
supposedly are working with Nigerian drug trafficking
organizations to clear illicit shipments at Nigerian ports
under diplomatic cover. Sources allege these containers
are usually consigned to the Liberian Embassy to the
attention of Bedell and Jackson. When the containers arrive,
Bedell and Jackson prepare diplomatic notes to the Nigerian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, certifying the shipments as
"diplomatic goods". After the clearing process, the
containers are then released to the Nigerian trafficker.
Bedell and Jackson then get paid for their services. Bedell
and Jackson also provide diplomatic vehicles operated by
Embassy drivers to transport Nigerian traffickers to Ghana,
Togo and Benin. The vehicles are not subject to border search
by Customs officials and are thus an attractive means to
smuggle quantities of drugs overland.


3. (C) According to a source, several months ago, a head of a
Lagos-based Liberian criminal gang arranged with Bedell to
steal two brand new lexus jeep and take them to Ghana to
sell. Bedell agreed to provide documentation including
Liberian diplomatic tags (CD-83). The vehicles were stolen
and driven to Accra, Ghana, using the Liberian tags. After
receiving Interpol police bulletin, Ghanaian authorities
impounded the vehicles in Accra. During investigation,
Interpol police unit went to the Liberian Embassy to
interview Bedell who claimed diplomatic immunity and refused
to let the police into the Embassy compound.


4. (C) Comment: Due to the protracted Liberian civil war,
Liberian diplomats in the West Africa sub-region had not
received much financial support from their Foreign Ministry.
Many of them have had to fend for themselves. The lure of
quick money from criminal activity apparently may have
tempted Bedell and Jackson. DEA CA intends to visit Amembassy
Monrovia in mid-February to brief Embassy officials further.
We believe CA's trip to Liberia might be an opportune time
also to engage the new government and raise these issues
bilaterally.
BROWNE