RECENT NARCOTICS ARREST HAS GHANAIAN DRUG BARONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 002273

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INL, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/CR, AF/FO AND AF/W; DEA
PLEASE PASS TO WASHINGTON FIELD DIVISION; ROME FOR RD
BENSON; BRUSSELS FOR A/RD SCARANTINO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2017
TAGS: ASEC SNAR PREL PGOV PINR KCRM GH AF
SUBJECT: RECENT NARCOTICS ARREST HAS GHANAIAN DRUG BARONS
WORRIED

REF: ACCRA 2244

Classified By: CHARGE SUE K. BROWN FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Ghanaian criminal community is reeling
after the well-publicized October 22 arrest of two Afghan
nationals for narcotics trafficking (reftel),according to
police and other contacts. Contacts have said the drug
"barons" were very surprised to learn that DEA was actively
conducting undercover operations in Ghana. The Ghanaian
media has carried the story in print and on television and
some opposition parties have seized on the arrests to
attack the ruling National Patriotic Party. However, the
President's Office was personally involved in overseeing the
handling of the case and the GOG performed well in the
suspects' arrest and ensuing expulsion. The suspects,
escorted by three DEA agents and one GOG official, departed
Accra on October 24, had a seamless transfer through
Amsterdam, and will arrive in Virginia on the afternoon of
October 25. They are scheduled to be arraigned October 26.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) In the last few days, police and other contacts have
told us that the arrest and subsequent expulsion of the two
Afghan nationals for suspected narcotics trafficking
(reftel) has sent shockwaves through the Ghanaian criminal
community. Contacts reported that criminals were surprised
to learn that the DEA was actively conducting undercover
investigations in Ghana. Contacts reported that criminals
are particularly alarmed at the speed of the GOG's movement
in expelling the suspects and handing them over to the U.S.
Criminal elements expressed their shock over "Section
959", and, according to our contacts, were unaware that
they could be deported to the U.S. and tried under U.S. law
for crimes committed outside the U.S. (NOTE: 21 USC Sec.
959 applies to manufacturers or distributors of narcotics
outside the U.S. who intend to sell narcotics in the U.S.
Persons caught violating the statute may be tried in the
U.S. END NOTE.) Police and other contacts added that other
Ghanaian drug "barons" knew Nasrullah Safiullah but called
him "Yama." The contacts said that "Yama" supplied several
barons in Accra and these individuals are hiding, afraid Yama
will talk. The suspects appeared to have long contacts with
the
area, disclosing at one point that they had learned English
from West Africans.


3. (C) Media reaction has been significant. The GOG held a
press conference on October 22 to announce the arrests and
major local dailies Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times
carried short articles with pictures of the suspects on
their front pages the following day. The arrests and
pictures of the suspects were also aired on state
television. Some opposition parties have seized on the
arrests to argue that President Kufuor's government has
been unable to control the borders or combat narcotics.


4. (C) The GOG acted responsibly and effectively throughout
the operation. However, it is important to note that
information concerning the case was only shared with a few
very select officials due to security concerns. According
to GOG contacts, President Kufuor was personally involved
in the case, ordering close cooperation and frequently
asking personal secretary Ambassador D.K. Osei for updates.
The Ghana Police operations team handled the arrest
smoothly and the normally slow GOG bureaucracy, with
prodding from the President's office, moved quickly with
the expulsion, completing the paperwork in a day and a
half. The detention of the suspects also went smoothly,
although Nasrullah Safiullah refused to eat for several
hours before giving in to his hunger.


5. (C) The suspects, looking tired and worried, departed
Accra the evening of October 24 via Amsterdam with a
heavily armed Ghana police escort taking them through the
VIP lounge for an early boarding of the flight. Both
suspects appeared to finally grasp the gravity of their
situation at this point and said they were ready to
cooperate and provide information on their contacts. The
suspects, escorted by three DEA agents and one Ghana Police
official, entered Amsterdam without incident and the

ACCRA 00002273 002 OF 002


transfer to the U.S. bound flight was without incident. The
suspects are scheduled to arrive at Dulles on October 25 in
the afternoon. They will be arraigned before a federal
judge in the Eastern District of Virginia on October 26.


6. (C) COMMENT: This case appears to be the first time the
959 statue has been used in Africa, and it is not
surprising to receive reports that local drug barons are
seeking cover and caught off guard to learn of DEA
activities in Accra. Should "Yama" provide useful
information regarding the activities of Ghanaian
traffickers, it remains to be seen how effectively the GOG
will react if given specific actionable information about
Ghanaian drug barons. While the GOG worked well on this
case, it is significant that only a small number of senior
officials were kept fully informed of the operation. END
COMMENT.
BROWN