DEA VISIT TO GUINEA BISSAU

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000726

SIPDIS

DEA HQS FOR OC,OI,OID,OEE, OSE
SECSTATE FOR INL/AF/W,INR/AA,AF/RSA,DS/IP/ITA
ROME FOR RD BENSON ARD PASQUARELLO
HAGUE FOR A/ARD BOOBAR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR PTER ASEC NI PU NARCOTICS
SUBJECT: DEA VISIT TO GUINEA BISSAU


Classified By: DEA CA SAM GAYE FOR REASONS 1.4 (D AND E)

SUMMARY
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1. (C) DEA CA Sam Gaye visited Guinea-Bissau, May 18-19,

2006. The purpose of the visit was to meet Bissau-Guinean
counter-narcotics officials to discuss trafficking trends,
share intelligence, and provide the Judicial Police (PJ) with
drug test kits. The PJ pleaded for more resources. The
Attorney General (AG) asked for help from the international
community to fight drug trafficking through Guinea-Bissau,
acknowledging that Guinea-Bissau has become a major transit
point for cocaine to Europe. CA Gaye informed the AG the
UNODC office in Dakar, Senegal, is aware of the threat
cocaine trafficking poses to Europe and UNODC plans to do an
assessment of the drug situation in Guinea-Bissau.
Meanwhile, CA Gaye advised the AG that DEA will engage the PJ
operationally, starting with investigating allegations of a
clandestine cocaine-processing laboratory run by Colombians
in Guinea-Bissau. CA Gaye told the AG that DEA is interested
in verifying claims the Colombians, along with some former
police officials, are constructing clandestine airstrips in
remote villages in Guinea-Bissau. END SUMMARY.

THE PJ SAYS IT LACKS RESOURCES TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING
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2. (C) On May 19,2006, CA Gaye met Orlando Artur Antonio La
Silva, Director General of Judicial Police (the equivalent of
the FBI). CA Gaye had visited Director La Silva during his
previous trip early this year. La Silva explained his agency
lacks the resources needed to fight drug trafficking in
Guinea-Bissau. The PJ cannot respond to information
regarding suspicious vessels or aircraft due to insufficient
logistical support. The Director said Colombians and
Lebanese nationals control drug trafficking in the area. The
Director cited a recent incident where a local police
commander in Guinea lent his vehicle to Lebanese traffickers
to drive to Guinea-Bissau to pick up a drug shipment. The
commander reportedly provided the Lebanese traffickers with a
letter requesting free passage at checkpoints.


3. (C) The PJ's annual investigative budget for all major
crimes, including counter narcotics, is 6 million CFA francs
(CFAF)(USD 11,500.00). The Director said after CA Gaye's
visit early this year, the Prime Minister's office created a
joint task force (JTF) to address the growing drug problem in
Guinea-Bissau. According to Director La Silva, the JTF is
just a "document" with no real institutional vitality.


4. (C) Director La Silva asked CA Gaye for Embassy Dakar to
continue to raise the seriousness of the drug situation with
senior government officials, including the President. CA
Gaye told La Silva that Ambassador Jacobs in Dakar is
concerned about the increase of drug trafficking through
Guinea-Bissau and the impact it may have on the fragile
democracy. The Director added the international community
needs to help Guinea-Bissau, and at the same time, put
pressure on the country's leadership to do its part. The
Director claimed that high-ranking military officers as well
as senior government officials are involved in drug
trafficking. The Director stated the military has "big guns"
and more clout than the PJ. He said that the Government is
reluctant to move against senior military figures for fear
that they may foment a military coup and seize power again.

NO EVIDENCE OF NEXUS WITH TERRORISTS
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5. (C) La Silva said there was no evidence of a drug nexus
with terrorism in Guinea-Bissau, although he did not rule out
the possibility. However, he confirmed that, periodically,
he received terrorist listings, including information on
frozen bank accounts, from Interpol. He commented that both
the borders and financial system in Guinea-Bissau are porous,
so "anything is possible".

DRUG TEST KITS AS SYMBOL OF COOPERATION
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6. (C) CA Gaye provided the PJ with drug test kits and
training on the use of drug test kits. The PJ had not used
drug test kits before and were excited about their new tools.
The chief said the equipment was a symbolic gesture of
cooperation. They can now field-test suspicious substances,
something never done before.


7. (C) Director La Silva informed CA Gaye that the four
Nigerians arrested in December 2005 were still being held.
However, one of them became paralyzed and is now
hospitalized. (COMMENT: Guinea-Bissau has no maximum
security prison. END COMMENT.)

ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKS FOR INTERNATIONAL HELP
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8. (C) On May 19, CA Gaye met Fernando Riberro,
Guinea-Bissau's Attorney General (AG),and his deputy. The
AG is new in his position. CA Gaye provided an overview of
drug trafficking trends in the region. The AG asked for help
from the international community to fight drug trafficking
through Guinea-Bissau. The AG stated few of his countrymen
can afford to buy drugs, but his country has become a major
transit point for cocaine to Europe. CA Gaye informed the AG
the UNODC office in Dakar, Senegal, is aware of the threat
cocaine trafficking poses to Europe and UNODC plans to do an
assessment of the drug situation in Guinea-Bissau.
Meanwhile, CA Gaye advised the AG that DEA will engage the PJ
operationally, starting with investigating allegations of a
clandestine cocaine-processing laboratory run by Colombians
in Guinea-Bissau. CA Gaye told the AG that DEA is interested
in verifying claims the Colombians, along with some former
police officials, are constructing clandestine airstrips in
remote villages in Guinea-Bissau. The AG reiterated his
government's full cooperation on counter narcotics.

BROWNE