STATISTICS OF ARRESTS WITH INL DONATED BODY SCANNERS

UNCLAS ABUJA 000307 SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/C/CJ, INL/AAE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC EAID NI IZ SUBJECT: STATISTICS OF ARRESTS WITH INL DONATED BODY SCANNERS HANDED OVER TO THE NIGERIA NATIONAL DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, (NDLEA). INL office at Embassy Abuja reports the following statistics for the four body scanners donated to National Drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Nigeria. The scanners are located at the four major international airports in Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Kano, Lagos and Abuja. Reports from U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and NDLEA indicate that suspects are intimidated by the scanners and have resorted to the ports and land borders, which are porous, to conduct their illicit trade. Reports indicate that similar efforts to build NDLEA's capacity at these locations could prove equally successful. ¶I. LAGOS The scanner at Lagos International Airport was donated on June 10, 2008 and NDLEA commenced use immediately. From June 2008 to December 2008, the scanner has assisted in the arrests of 84 persons suspected of ingesting hard drugs and strapping hard drugs on the body. DEA reports that the scanners have become a major deterrent to traffickers. Delta Airlines has begun direct flights to Lagos partly based on increased security provided by the scanners. There are about Twenty daily international flights departing from the Lagos International Airport of which fifteen have had suspected drug couriers checked in to travel to various destinations. The arrests on each route included: Air France to Italy 2, Germany 2; KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Germany 8, Spain 7, Italy 2, Austria 2, Poland 2, Athens 2 and Amsterdam 5, London 1; Alitalia Airlines to Italy 13, Madrid 2; Virgin Atlantic Airlines to London 1, United States of America 1; Virgin Nigeria Airlines to South Africa 1, London 4; South African Airlines to Johannesburg 1; Southern China Airline to Dubai 2; Qatar Airways to Bangkok 2, Japan 1; Ethiopian Airlines to Bombay 1, China; Iberia Airlines to Spain 4, China 1; British Airways to London 1,United States of America 1; Bellview Airlines to Conakry 4; Kenya Airlines to Bangkok 1; Turkish Airline to Italy 1; Emirates to Dubai 2. II. ABUJA The scanner at Abuja Airport was donated in March 2008 and NDLEA commenced use immediately. Abuja Airport has four flights a week going to Amsterdam on KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines, 3 flights to London on British Airways, 1 flight to Nairobi on Kenya Airlines and 2 to Frankfurt on Lufthansa. From March 2008 to Jan 2009, the scanner has successfully detected 65 suspects who have ingested narcotic substances. All arrests at Abuja Airport are checked in passengers to travel on board KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Destinations and the number of suspects are Germany 13, Spain 23, Amsterdam 9, Paris 3, Italy 3, United States of America 1, Poland 1 and Greece 1 III. KANO The scanner in Kano Airport was donated along with the Abuja scanner. It has recorded one arrest since installation. The low figure is of concern to INL. From inquiries made, NDLEA reports that narcotics activities have shifted from the airport in Kano to the land borders. According to the NDLEA Airport Commander, this shift is attributable to the mere presence of the scanners at the airport as deterrence to intending drug couriers. Kano International Airport has 3 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flights a week and the only arrest from Kano was a checked in passenger to Spain. IV. PORT HARCOURT The Scanner at Port Harcourt Airport was installed along with the Lagos scanner and has not recorded any arrests since installation. INL has tried to determine the cause, and reports from the field have ruled out inability to operate the machine. INL may request for the scanner to be moved to Lagos. The Port Harcourt airport re-opened late April 2008 has Air France operating from this airport and Lufthansa airlines. SANDERS