THE AFRICAN UNION'S INTEREST IN THE DRUG TRADE IN

UNCLAS LOME 000274


ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU, STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/W AND
WHA, STATE ALSO FOR INL/AAE AND INL/LP, NSC FOR MGAVIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PREL XR XY TO
SUBJECT: THE AFRICAN UNION'S INTEREST IN THE DRUG TRADE IN
WEST AFRICA

REF: ADDIS ABABA 001911


1. Summary. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
(UNODC) sent its Dakar-based regional representative to Togo
the week of August 3 to help launch the GOT's five-year plan
to combat drugs and crime. The representative, Alexandre
Schmidt, met with the Ambassador and discussed various
developments in the fight against drug trafficking in West
Africa. He also gave her a copy of a 2009 report on
trafficking flows in West Africa. The information in the
report can provide much of the information that the AU is
looking for. End Summary.


2. Here in Togo, we have remarked on the great number of
assessment trips made by various nationalities and agencies
concerned with drug trafficking and other transnational
crimes issues, including State's own INL. Unfortunately, few
of these visits have resulted in any concrete action of
assistance, especially in the areas where it is most needed,
such as training for law enforcement, judicial and financial
agencies involved in the fight against all aspects of
transnational crime. Most recently, the UNODC regional office
in Dakar helped the GOT develop a fairly comprehensive
five-year Integrated National Plan to Combat Drugs and Crime.
There is no funding- Togolese or other- to implement the
plan, and the GOT will shortly hold another donor's
conference to request financing.


3. During a meeting with Schmidt, we received a copy of the
July 2009 report, "Transnational Trafficking and the Rule of
Law in West Africa: A Threat Assessment." This is a very
comprehensive document that covers all types of trafficking
flows, including: cocaine from South America to Europe; oil
from Nigeria to the world; cigarettes from Europe and Asia to
West and North Africa; counterfeit medicines from Asia to
West Africa (especially malaria drugs); victims of
trafficking for sexual exploitation from West Africa to
Europe; small arms to West Africa; toxic waste from Europe to
Nigeria and Ghana; and workers from West Africa to Europe.
Each "flow" is examined in depth, and the report provides
comprehensive statistics. All are tied to the probable impact
on the stability of the region and the threat to the rule of
law.


4. Copies of the report are available from UNODC offices
worldwide and from the Policy Analysis and Research Branch,
UNODC, Vienna, Austria. Since the report contains even more
information than the AU is requesting, it would be of value
as a reference document for their interest in developing a
plan. Additionally, we have heard that the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS) is also looking to develop a
regional plan to combat drugs and crime, but we have no
further details.


Hawkins