PRELIMINARY MEETING OF THE JOINT DRUG INTERDICTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000209 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, INL/AAE - JSTEFFENS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM PINR SL SUBJECT: PRELIMINARY MEETING OF THE JOINT DRUG INTERDICTION TASK FORCE Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: On April 23, a preliminary meeting of the Sierra Leone Joint Drug Interdiction Task Force (JDITF) was held under the leadership of the UN Senior Police Advisor. Poloff attended the meeting and provided technical assistance on possible next steps, as the task force currently has a coordination structure in place, but no long-term action or policy strategy. Given that the incidence of drug trafficking is on the rise in West Africa, and Sierra Leone is becoming an increasingly attractive transit point for narcotics smugglers, supporting this fledgling task force is an important element of post's peace and security portfolio. END SUMMARY. -------------- BACKGROUND: THE JDITF -------------- ¶2. (U) Poloff previously met with UN Senior Police Advisor Rudy Landeros on April 11, where he presented a project proposal for the establishment of the JDITF. The JDITF is intended to be responsible to the National Security Council and the National Security Council Coordinating Group. The agencies identified for inclusion in the JDITF are: Office of National Security; Central Intelligence and Security Unit; Forces Intelligence and Security Unit; and the Sierra Leone Police. The latter will be represented by four permanent members from the Special Branch, Criminal Intelligence Services, Operations Support Division, and the Criminal Investigation Division. ¶3. (U) Besides coordination between the agencies outlined above, the JDITF will also coordinate externally with non-member entities, such as the National Drug Control Agency, National Revenue Authority, Bank of Sierra Leone, Anti-Corruption Commission, the Airport Authority, the Joint Maritime Wing, and Immigration. The JDITF will coordinate with other organizations as necessary. ¶4. (U) Poloff reviewed the proposal with Landeros, noting that while it outlines the structure for the JDITF, it does not truly articulate goals, objectives, activities, execution plans, or roles and responsibilities. Landeros agreed that they are in the nascent planning stages, and have yet to create a road-map for action. He suggested a planning meeting, to include poloff, to share further ideas with a larger group. -------------- -------------- CRAWLING BEFORE WE WALK: THE INITIAL JDITF MEETING -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) On April 23, Landeros brought together several stakeholders to discuss next steps for the JDITF. (Note: Post intends to include other U.S. agencies more closely as this initiative moves forward.) Participants included poloff, UN Military Advisor Lt. Col. Ian Buchanan, and Garry Horlacher, Security Sector Coordinator for DFID. Sierra Leonean representatives, including the National Security Coordinator for the Office of National Security, Sierra Leone Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Central Intelligence and Security Unit, and the Sierra Leone Assistant Inspector General of Police, were unable to attend this meeting, which allowed for a frank discussion of how best to move the effort forward in a strategic and realistic manner. ¶6. (U) The group agreed that a strategic plan must be developed, with all relevant stakeholders, before any further action can be undertaken. Participants agreed that the GoSL representatives must be carefully selected to ensure that discussions regarding the plan are productive, with awareness that the JDITF must work together as a unit on shared goals and objectives. A one-day meeting of stakeholders is thus being planned for mid-June, to begin to formulate the strategic plan. ¶7. (U) Poloff, while agreeing to attend the larger meeting if post resources permit, reminded the group that such an event requires considerable pre-planning. She suggested that guidance be provided to all participating agencies in advance, to ensure that they come prepared with constructive information about their current interdiction activities, resources, expectations for the JDITF, etc. She also suggested that the provision of technical assistance from experts, such as regional representatives of UNODC or Interpol, could be worth investigating, but this was deemed unnecessary by the group. FREETOWN 00000209 002 OF 002 -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) While this is a worthy effort to support, particularly as the incidence of drug trafficking in Sierra Leone increases, the JDITF is in its infancy and will need considerable hand-holding to progress past the idea phase and into the kind of strategic conceptualization that will generate action and results. Right now, this effort is very much vested in the UN, particularly Senior Police Advisor Landeros. While his enthusiasm is laudable, there is obviously a need to see the same level of enthusiasm and ownership from the GoSL representatives. Still, the creation of this group demonstrates at least some interest in coordinating efforts to combat the drug trade. With consistent technical support and encouragement from post and other members of the international community, this group could become highly effective as both an operational and intelligence-sharing unit. Funding elements of the future action-plan is a potential next step for the USG, further demonstrating our support and commitment to addressing the narcotics issue in vulnerable West African countries like Sierra Leone. END COMMENT. PERRY