Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COTONOU11
2008-01-05 12:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:  

GOB REQUESTS IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN INTERDICTING

Tags:  MASS SNAR BN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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