MARIJUANA CULTIVATION SEEN AS NATIONAL SECURITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000135 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W (JHUNTER/ESPRUILL),INL/AAE (KGOLDSTEIN) BRUSSELS FOR DOJ/DEA (TSCARANTINO) DOJ FOR DEA/OS/OSE (MCMANAMON/LENARTOWICZ), DEA/OS/OSE/CNTOC (BROWN) E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2019 TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL ASEC SL SUBJECT: MARIJUANA CULTIVATION SEEN AS NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: On April 11, a highly-placed security sector source provided Poloff with a classified assessment from the Office of National Security (ONS) on the proliferation of cannabis cultivation. Drafted for the President, the assessment states that Sierra Leone is "gradually emerging as one of the states in West Africa where the cultivation of marijuana is overtaking vital domestic crop farming." The report outlines the emerging threat to national security, noting that exportation to Guinea is increasing and that unemployed youth are at-risk of becoming more involved in the protection of cultivation sites. Further, the report cites numerous incidents of complicity by members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Paramount Chiefs, and Members of Parliament (MPs). The assessment calls for a nation-wide operation to be conducted by the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the RSLAF through the invocation of a "MACP" - Military Assistance to Civil Power. A second source, holding a senior leadership position in the SLP, confirmed to Poloff on April 11 that the joint operational plan will be presented to the National Security Council Coordinating Group on April 14, and then the National Security Council. Despite increased focus in recent months on cocaine trafficking, curbing marijuana cultivation and export would be a considerable accomplishment in Sierra Leone. However, combating local leaders' influence as well as corrupt government officials will be a frustrating challenge. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) The assessment, dated April 1, focused on the threat cultivation poses to food security in the country by diverting land from food production, as well as its possible contribution to lawlessness in up-country regions. The report itself provides little new information, but the selection of incidents reported in Annex A strongly highlights the extent of the problem, as well as provides examples of "connivance of local authorities and state security personnel..." and collusion with Guinean Armed Forces. The SLP source stated that the Annex represents the tip of the iceberg, and that GoSL officials have identified hundreds of marijuana farms throughout the country. The incidents do not include examples of demonstrating an external influence or organization, but both sources voiced fears that an increase in the smuggling of hard drugs in the sub-region by foreign cartels could lead to their eventual control of the marijuana trade. Further, if production increases, sources see a strong possibility that opportunities to export to other markets will be explored. ¶3. (S/NF) Annex A speaks to the wide divide between Freetown and the rest of the country. Despite a well-organized deployment of military and SLP throughout Sierra Leone, field operations appear to exist in a vacuum from Headquarters. With the support of local leaders, such as Paramount Chiefs and MPs, the marijuana trade appears to be operating with impunity. The security forces in particular seem to be prospering, criminally supplementing their wages away from Freetown's oversight. Despite government decentralization efforts that appeared to place more authority and resources in the provinces, the ongoing political tensions in many up-country locations and prevalence of criminal activities, including drug cultivation and smuggling, are increasing. ¶4. (S/NF) Comment: The GoSL is taking marijuana cultivation very seriously, as evidenced by this assessment. It demonstrates the security fears surrounding local drug production, which was once classified as relatively harmless since it was intended for the domestic market. With increased exportation to Guinea, as well as intelligence surrounding Sierra Leone's continued role as a narcotics transit country, officials are starting to view marijuana as a potential springboard to much larger problems. The expanding and evolving marijuana trade could open doors for further criminal activity in areas of the country where the security situation is already tenuous. Post supports a national interdiction effort, but questions the implementation of the MACP to accomplish this. Increased RSLAF involvement in civilian police activities appear counter-intuitive given the many examples of military collusion in illicit drug activities. Further, use of the MACP could indicate waning confidence in the SLP's abilities due to recent botched operations, though it could also simply reflect the SLP's desire to use the RSLAF's superior equipment and greater manpower in remote locations. Post will report further information septel, following the NSCCG and NSC meetings, but FREETOWN 00000135 002 OF 002 applauds the GoSL's attempts to become pro-active in their counter-narcotics efforts. End Comment. PERRY