US AND BRITISH AMBASSADORS MEET WITH INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L CONAKRY 000166 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2015 TAGS: SNAR PGOV GV SUBJECT: US AND BRITISH AMBASSADORS MEET WITH INTERIOR MINISTER ABOUT DRUGS REF: CONKARY 155 Classified By: Ambassador Phillip Carter III for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (SBU) On Friday, May 2, Ambassador Carter and British Ambassador John McManus called on the Minister of Interior and Security, Beau Keita, to discuss their mutual concerns of increased narcotics trafficking in Guinea for European markets. Noting the recent article in the local newspaper, Le Lynx, the Ambassador congratulated the Minister on the seizure of a large amount of illlicit narcotics, reportedly one ton of cocaine. However, he added, with some concern, that at a meeting with embassy officials the previous week, ministry officials presented only 347 kilos of seized contraband. Both Ambassadors asked when the Ministry would be destroying the seized drugs and that both missions would like to watch the actual destruction. Minister Keita thanked the Ambassadors for their interest and concern. He stated that his office will contact our embassies about the date of destruction and invite us to observe the incineration. As to the discrepancy in quantity seized, Keita said that the press had probably exaggerated. Despite repeated attempts for details surrounding the seizure, Keita was vague, stating that a Latino and a Frenchman had been detained. It was unclear if they were still in detention. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador McManus stressed that the growing problem of narcotics trafficking in Guinea is not just a US/UK issue, but a broader European worry as well. Ambassdor Carter added that while Guinea Bissau is seen as West Africa's first "narco-state," the narcotics problem seems growing in Guinea. Both Ambassadors asked Keita what he was doing to stop the flow of drugs into Guinea. Keita repeatedly stated that the government is completely against this illicit activity, but that it lacked the basic resources to combat it effectively. He said that he had just signed an accord with the Spanish government that will allow Spanish and other EU ships to patrol the coast in order to identify ships trafficking persons, as well as narcotics. He asked that the US and EU support his ministry with training, equipment and information. Ambassador Carter stated that the US is providing equipment to the Guinean Navy to track commercial vessels under the AIS system and that this information might prove helpful to Keita and his ministry. Keita shook his head, stating that the Guinean Navy does not share one iota of information with the police. Despite Keita's best efforts, the Guinean Navy refuses to collaborate with civilian security forces. He added that the police try to monitor over sixty embarkation points around Conakry used by local fisherman traveling in pirogues and dhows. He admitted that these efforts are hit and miss at best. ¶3. (SBU) Both Ambassadors closed the meeting by informing Keita that their respective govenrments will continue to follow the issue of narcotics trafficking in Guinea very closely and will look to see what assistance could be rendered. On the issue of information sharing, Ambassador Carter laid the marker that corruption within the security services could be facilitating such traffic, emphasizing that it would be is ineffective to provide information if the government is not going to act. Keita acknowledged the problem of police corruption but added that there are officers who will do their duty. He emphasized that if our governments had information of a possible shipment arriving into Guinea, he would ensure its interdiction. ¶4. (C) Keita's responses were typical of his interactions with us. He speaks the party line, but there is no depth to what he says. His ministry is reportedly deeply involved in the trafficking problem, and his weak response suggests that he is either unable or unwilling to do much about it. Keita, himself, may be deep into this illicit business. For example, the newspaper journalist who reported on the seizure confided with the embassy's public affairs officer that his contacts said that the five or six hispanics who were detained were later released after they were visited the minister and his wife. The reporter did not mention this in his story prudently weighing his self-preservation over an even more provocative story. CARTER