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