GOG HAS LITTLE CONTROL OVER NARCOTICS FLOW THROUGH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002227 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL AND AF/W E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017 TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL KCRM PINR GH SUBJECT: GOG HAS LITTLE CONTROL OVER NARCOTICS FLOW THROUGH KOTOKA REF: ACCRA 2140 Classified By: CDA SUE K. BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Poloff toured Kotoka International Airport on October 16 to survey GOG efforts to combat the transit of narcotics. The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) has around seven overworked and underpaid officers patrolling the airport. Resources are scant and a NACOB official told poloff that Kotoka is rife with corruption. Seizures from UK-sponsored Operation Westbridge likely only scratch the surface of the narcotics trade in Ghana and UK officials express concern about GOG participation in the program (reftel). A high level UK delegation is visiting October 23 and 24 to discuss narcotics with the GOG. Unless the GOG provides more resources to Kotoka, the amount of narcotics transiting Accra to Western Europe and the U.S. will continue to increase. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On October 16, officials from the UK sponsored Operation Westbridge and Ghanaian Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) toured poloff through Kotoka International Airport and briefed him on their efforts to interdict narcotics shipments leaving Accra. The NACOB official said an average of seven NACOB officers monitor various posts throughout the airport on any given evening. These include customs and check-in areas, passport control, air cargo and passenger drop-off, and final screening at the departure gate. ¶3. (C) NACOB focuses the majority of its efforts against couriers. A NACOB official noted that the organization trains its officers to identify couriers and employ a variety of methods to determine whether a particular individual is carrying narcotics. These include swabs to test for narcotics trace in sweat as well as urine testing. If these preliminary indicators are positive, officers transport suspects to nearby 37 Military Hospital for x-ray and final identification. The officer commented that drug "barons" often sent "decoy" couriers early in the boarding process to divert the already-stretched NACOB staff from identifying the more veteran couriers who board later. The official praised the two itemizers donated by the USG but noted they were broken and requested assistance to repair them. (Note: Post understands that UK officials have discussed the possibility of repairing the itemizers with EUCOM. End note.) ¶4. (C) The NACOB official also showed poloff the chaotic airfreight area, which he said presents numerous challenges. The busy area peaks on Saturday nights as delivery trucks and workers enter with little supervision, according to the NACOB official. He noted that, in one instance, inspectors discovered cocaine in the false bottoms of boxes carrying fruit but shippers were able to flee the area without being caught. A UK official noted that there was a scanner in place to check cargo on all British Airways journeys to London but that liability concerns prevented its use on other flights. The UK official also recommended more attention for imports into Ghana as the vast majority of screening relates only to goods leaving the country. He commented upon airlines, frequent deployment of individuals to monitor customs weighing in response to past instances of underreporting and resulting safety concerns for the airplanes affected. ¶5. (C) The NACOB official expressed concern about corruption and referenced the firing of two airport employees in connection with the seizure of 70 kg of cocaine at the duty-free shop outside the business class lounge two months ago. He also highlighted the seizure as proof of the large volume of narcotics flowing through the airport. The official credited the corruption to low salaries for GoG officials. He observed that his own employees receive slightly higher pay than average but work bruising shifts: typically, 12-hour shifts six to seven days a week, with a two hour commute home, for about USD 150-200 a month. The UK official (who spends significant time at the airport training NACOB officers) supported this statement by saying he frequently saw NACOB officers sneaking off for a much-needed nap. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: The tour and briefing made evident the lack of control exercised by the GOG on substances and goods transiting its airport. While the NACOB official seemed to be a dedicated professional serious about his work, he was under no illusions about the challenges he faces. Staffing and salary concerns severely hamper NACOB,s ability to interdict narcotics couriers and shipments. Without a significant ACCRA 00002227 002 OF 002 increase in resources, the flow of narcotics through Kotoka into Europe and the United States will continue to increase. END COMMENT. BROWN