GFUP-O6-9259, NIGERIA: ARRESTS OF 4 NIGERIANS

UNCLAS LAGOS 000247 SIPDIS DEA HQS FOR OI, OID, OSE,OEE, SARI STATE FOR INL/AF/W POSTS FOR DEA OR NARCOR FROM DEA CA SAM GAYE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR ASEC NI SUBJECT: GFUP-O6-9259, NIGERIA: ARRESTS OF 4 NIGERIANS REF: DAKAR 00364 ¶1. On December 27, 2005, Guinean Bissau drug police arrested 4 Nigerian nationals and seized approximately 4 kilograms of cocaine at the Osvaldo Vieira International Airport, Bissau. The Nigerians arrived from Brazil via Portugal. All four individuals ingested a total of 243 pellets or condoms containing cocaine. ¶2. According to the police, Portuguese authorities detected the cocaine (through x-ray) while the Nigerians were enroute through portugal and communicated the information to the Guinean Bissau drug police. Upon arrival, the police subjected them to a secondary search and interrogation, at which time they admitted to ingesting cocaine. All four individuals were carrying fake Guinea Bissau passports. ¶3. During DEA CA Gaye's recent visit to Guinea Bissau (February 6-7),the police produced defendant Emeka Okeke aka: samuel Nhaga, for interrogation. During post-arrest interrogation by CA Gaye, Okeke said he was recruited in Nigeria by a "Moses" who sent him to The Gambia to meet one "Emmanuel". The latter secured him a fake Guinea Bissau passport, and then sent him to Brazil. During the interrogation, Okeke was evasive and seemed to know more than he was admitting. ¶4. Comment: Guinea Bissau does not have laboratory facility to analyzed drug evidence nor test kits to conduct presumptive drug tests. CA Gaye suggested to the police to have their drug evidence analyzed in Senegal or Portugal. They agreed to make arrangements with the Senegalese in order to analyze their drugs. CA Gaye promised to provide the police with test kits during his next trip to Guinea Bissau. ¶5. Indexing Section: ¶1. Emeka Okeke aka: Samuel Nhaga, Nigerian male, DPOB: 9/26/65, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria ¶2. Augustin Kouame, Nigerian male, DPOB: 10/10/70, Anambra State, Nigeria ¶3. Anthony Sam, Nigerian male, DPOB: 4/20/70, Anambra State, Nigeria ¶4. Diolindo Cardoso, Nigerian male, DPOB: 8/1/75, Nigeria BROWNE