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.

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BACKGROUND: THE JDITF
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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.

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CRAWLING BEFORE WE WALK: THE INITIAL JDITF MEETING
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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.


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COMMENT
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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