Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COTONOU11
2008-01-05 12:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
GOB REQUESTS IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN INTERDICTING
VZCZCXYZ0002 NN RUEHWEB DE RUEHCO #0011 0051218 ZNY CCCCC ZZH ZZK O 051218Z JAN 08 ZFF4 FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 0088 INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS IMMEDIATE 1291 RUEHPC/AMEMBASSY LOME IMMEDIATE 3883 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 1224 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHNA/DEA HQS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHAR/USDAO ACCRA GH IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/COMUSNAVEUR NAPLES IT IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L COTONOU 000011
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AND AF, LAGOS FOR DEA ATTACHE,
ACCRA FOR FORWOOD, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2018
TAGS: MASS SNAR BN
SUBJECT: GOB REQUESTS IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN INTERDICTING
DRUG RUNNING VESSEL
REF: A. COTONOU 04
B. COTONOU 01
C. 07 COTONOU 893
Classified By: Amb. Gayleatha B. Brown for reasons 1.4 b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L COTONOU 000011
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AND AF, LAGOS FOR DEA ATTACHE,
ACCRA FOR FORWOOD, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2018
TAGS: MASS SNAR BN
SUBJECT: GOB REQUESTS IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN INTERDICTING
DRUG RUNNING VESSEL
REF: A. COTONOU 04
B. COTONOU 01
C. 07 COTONOU 893
Classified By: Amb. Gayleatha B. Brown for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1.(U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2.(C) President Yayi convoked the Ambassador for a personal
meeting on the margins of a Council of Ministers meeting on
January 5, 2008. Yayi told the Ambassador that the French
government had informed him a vessel was currently in the
waters off of the Beninese city of Grand Popo preparing to
disembark narcotics. The same boat had aborted a previous
attempt in the face of fishermen in the area, according to
President Yayi. The President asked the Ambassador for U.S.
assistance in tracking the vessel and if possible
interdicting it before it disembarks the narcotics. During
the conversation the President passed on a note that
requested 24 hour satellite surveillance on all ship movement
along Benin's coast and contiguous international waters.
3.(C) Benin lacks the capability to perform this interdiction
itself (Ref B) and has previously requested this type of
information (Ref C). Post also notes the GOB has reacted
positively to the previous offer of information sharing
detailed in Ref A.
4.(C) Action Request: Please forward an appropriate response,
by Niact Immediate cable, to President Yayi's request for
assistance.
BROWN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, AND AF, LAGOS FOR DEA ATTACHE,
ACCRA FOR FORWOOD, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2018
TAGS: MASS SNAR BN
SUBJECT: GOB REQUESTS IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN INTERDICTING
DRUG RUNNING VESSEL
REF: A. COTONOU 04
B. COTONOU 01
C. 07 COTONOU 893
Classified By: Amb. Gayleatha B. Brown for reasons 1.4 b and d.
1.(U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4.
2.(C) President Yayi convoked the Ambassador for a personal
meeting on the margins of a Council of Ministers meeting on
January 5, 2008. Yayi told the Ambassador that the French
government had informed him a vessel was currently in the
waters off of the Beninese city of Grand Popo preparing to
disembark narcotics. The same boat had aborted a previous
attempt in the face of fishermen in the area, according to
President Yayi. The President asked the Ambassador for U.S.
assistance in tracking the vessel and if possible
interdicting it before it disembarks the narcotics. During
the conversation the President passed on a note that
requested 24 hour satellite surveillance on all ship movement
along Benin's coast and contiguous international waters.
3.(C) Benin lacks the capability to perform this interdiction
itself (Ref B) and has previously requested this type of
information (Ref C). Post also notes the GOB has reacted
positively to the previous offer of information sharing
detailed in Ref A.
4.(C) Action Request: Please forward an appropriate response,
by Niact Immediate cable, to President Yayi's request for
assistance.
BROWN