TWO AFGHANS ARRESTED IN NARCOTICS STING OPERATION

UNCLAS ACCRA 002244 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/CR, AF/FO AND AF/W; DEA PLEASE PASS TO DEA WASHINGTON FIELD DIVISION; ROME FOR RD BENSON; BRUSSELS FOR A/RD SCARANTINO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC SNAR PREL PGOV PINR GH AF SUBJECT: TWO AFGHANS ARRESTED IN NARCOTICS STING OPERATION REF: STATE 143215 ¶1. (SBU) On October 22 in Accra, pursuant to a U.S. request, the Ghana Police arrested two Afghan nationals, Nasrullah Safiullah and Mohammad Ashraf Mohammad-Omar, for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute heroin and import it for sale in the U.S. During a long DEA undercover operation, Safiullah first met with two undercover DEA agents in Accra and agreed to sell the agents 100 kilograms of heroin for importation to and distribution in the U.S. at a cost of USD 17,000 per kilogram. The estimated street value of the heroin is USD 30 million. After the first meeting, an undercover DEA agent traveled to Kabul to receive a sample of the heroin. On this second trip to Accra, Safiullah, accompanied by Mohammad-Omar, expected to receive a 35 per cent down payment for the heroin while Mohammad-Omar planned to stay in Accra until the deal was completed. Safiullah and Mohammad-Omar are described as major suppliers of heroin and they maintain a laboratory in Afghanistan where they refine, process, and convert raw opium into heroin, as much as 500 kilograms a week, and distribute the heroin to a network of international customers. ¶2. (SBU) The suspects arrived in Accra from Dubai at 0600 on October 22. Upon arrival they entered through Kotoka International Airport and were met by undercover DEA agents. After they departed the airport, the suspects were pulled over and arrested by Ghana Police officers. The suspects were then taken to a holding facility in Accra where they will remain until the Ghanaian government formally expels them. (NOTE: Post delivered reftel diplomatic note on October 16 to Secretary to the President who told us the GOG would work with the U.S.G to expel the suspects. END NOTE.) After the expulsion, the suspects will be placed in U.S. custody and will return to the U.S. via commercial air to stand trial. Sealed warrants for the suspects, arrest were issued on October 10 in the U.S. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: The suspects are among the biggest narcotics dealers ever arrested in Ghana, as Ghana typically focuses on couriers. The GOG was brought in on the operation late and only a limited number of top officials were informed due to security concerns. Many of the operational details were handled directly by the Secretary to President Kufuor, to avoid even the slightest possibility of a tip off by anyone in the Ghanaian government. The operation was a success and the GOG has told us it plans to publicize the arrests. Operationally, the Ghana Police officers involved in the sting acted professionally and showed that, given the right intelligence, and high-level support from the Government, they are able to make a dent in the ever increasing amount of narcotics transiting Ghana. END COMMENT. BROWN