NEW NDLEA CHAIRMAN PROMISES INCREASED COOPERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000003 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR INR/AA STATE FOR INL DEA FOR OI, OC, OID, OIE, OEE, OSE POST FOR RD BENSON / PASQUARELLO E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR NI SUBJECT: NEW NDLEA CHAIRMAN PROMISES INCREASED COOPERATION REF: LAGOS 1790 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reason 1.4 (D) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) In our first meeting with him, Ahmadu Giade, the new Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), promised cooperation to combat illegal narcotics trafficking would be "the best it has ever been." Consul General and DEA Attach explained the annual narcotics certification program, the importance of quickly targeting drug barons over the next six months as a key factor in Nigeria's recertification, and the urgent need to revive the DEA / NDLEA Joint Task Force (JTF) as the linchpin of our strategy focusing on important barons and large shipments. Giade understood the gravity of the certification process and agreed to schedule meetings to develop operational plans, including the reestablishment of the JTF. End summary. -------------- -------------- RECERTIFICATION DEPENDS ON QUICK PLANNING AND PROGRESS -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) During a December 22 meeting, Consul General and DEA Attach met the new Chairman of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade. Consul General and DEA Attach emphasized that soon the annual drug certification process would be in gear. However, half an operational year had elapsed without any notable achievements on the counternarcotics front. Thus, Nigeria and the NDLEA were in the position of playing catch-up. Much work needed to be done if Nigeria was to be seriously considered a candidate for recertification, they stressed. Consul General explained that Giade's predecessor mistakenly likened the process to a bank account in which a past act could gain one future interest. The recently ousted Dr. Lafiaji somehow erroneously believed what the NDLEA might have done years ago should figure prominently in our certification evaluation for future years. Instead, the Consul General expressed, certification was more like a report card. Good results and progress one year do not carry over to the next year; instead, every year sets a baseline against which the succeeding year is judged. ¶3. (C) The Consul General stressed that the NDLEA and DEA quickly develop a six-month plan of action that would be the roadmap enabling Nigeria to make up for the months already squandered this year. He remarked it was imperative that DEA and NDLEA coordinate to dismantle drug networks and prosecute their architects. He cautioned Giade not to pursue the definitional battle his predecessor had waged with us over the definition of a major trafficker. We defined a "major trafficker" as one who controls operations and/or finances of a drug organization but NDLEA labeled couriers caught with relatively large amounts of drugs (in comparison to other couriers apprehended) as major traffickers. Consul General said we must resolve the definitional confusion. At bottom the drug organizations must be studied to determine the leaders and it is these people who must be targeted and apprehended. Giade agreed, stating a common understanding of the targets should be easily reached, and then the emphasis would be correctly placed on operational coordination. DEA Attach pointed out targeting and investigating the key players in some of the leading organizations should not take much time because some of these people and organizations are well known to the NDLEA. Others it would take more time to investigate ¶4. (C) The Consul General and DEA Attach also highlighted the need to target large drug shipments. DEA Attach told Giade that Nigeria had not made a significant seizure in years. However, we were seeing a growing body of evidence that large shipments were indeed transshipping Nigeria. We also stressed that the JTF should be reconstituted soonest as the main and most effective fulcrum of our strategic goal to arrest leaders of drug networks and to halt large shipments. ¶5. (C) Given the need to move ahead quickly, the Consul General suggested the JTF meet as soon as possible to reach agreement on definitions and appropriate targets, and develop the operational plan for the next three to six months. This way, the NDLEA can get into full operational swing right at the start of the new year, the Consul General offered. Chairman Giade agreed to this suggestion and said he would organize the meeting as soon as he could. -------------- -------------- INL FUNDING AVAILABLE; REGIONAL COOPERATION, STIFFER SANCTIONS, BETTER PORT PERFORMANCE ALSO NEEDED -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) As part of the effort to dismantle drug organizations, the Attach espoused that NDLEA become more active in the seizure of bank accounts and assets. Chairman Giade agreed with the efficacy of this action, which creates an even greater deterrent to dissuade potential traffickers. ¶7. (C) DEA Attach said more work needed to be done at Nigeria's airports and seaports. Although many of the couriers have been arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, enforcement at other airports and the seaports needed to be strengthened. The seaports currently represent a significant lapse in the NDLEA enforcement efforts. While searching every container at the seaports is prohibitive, the NDLEA could target containers from specific source countries, he advised. ¶8. (C) DEA Attach also discussed the need to properly use current INL funding for equipment and training. Giade thanked USG for the assistance provided. ¶9. (C) DEA Attach gave a brief overview of the West Africa Joint Operations (WAJO) organization, comprised of drug law enforcement agencies throughout West Africa. WAJO holds an annual conference and facilitates relations among West African drug law enforcement agencies in order to stage effective cooperative regional anti-drug operations. WAJO was a positive accomplishment of former Chairman Lafiaji. ¶10. (C) DEA Attach concluded by stating DEA activity would be in coordination with the NDLEA. He assured Chairman Giade that any problems or issues that arose would be communicated to him immediately, so they could be resolved quickly. -------------- CHAIRMAN GIADE RECEPTIVE AND ENCOURAGING -------------- ¶11. (C) The new chairman said he had talked to President Obasanjo face-to-face before taking the assignment. The President had made him aware of the Agency's recent shortcomings, he commented. Giade agreed that many drug barons were already known and that none were untouchable. Alluding to his predecessor's malafides - "I don't know why but for some reason, barons were not gone after but I promise we will," Giade said. He added that cooperation between DEA and NDLEA under his watch would be "the best it has ever been." -------------- -------------- CONTROLLED DELIVERY PLANNED ON SHIPMENT FROM URUGUAY -------------- -------------- ¶12. (C) DEA shared information about a drug shipment destined for Anambra State and requested coordination with NDLEA for a controlled delivery, to which Giade immediately agreed, summoning the JTF commander to begin working out an operational plan. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶13. (C) This was an encouraging first meeting with the new NDLEA Chairman. Giade appears sincere in his desire to coordinate with us, and make some actual progress against the drug traffickers and their illicit vocation. In short, we extended the hand of cooperation to him and he reciprocated. Now, let's see if he will maintain hold. End comment. BROWNE