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

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applauds the GoSL's attempts to become pro-active in their
counter-narcotics efforts. End Comment.
PERRY