This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

031052Z Jan 06

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
STATE FOR INL 
DEA FOR OI, OC, OID, OIE, OEE, OSE 
POST FOR RD BENSON / PASQUARELLO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR NI
SUBJECT: NEW NDLEA CHAIRMAN PROMISES INCREASED COOPERATION 
 
REF: LAGOS 1790 
 
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reason 1.4 (D) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (C) In our first meeting with him, Ahmadu Giade, the new 
Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), 
promised cooperation to combat illegal narcotics trafficking 
would be "the best it has ever been."  Consul General and DEA 
Attach explained the annual narcotics certification program, 
the importance of quickly targeting drug barons over the next 
six months as a key factor in Nigeria's recertification, and 
the urgent need to revive the DEA / NDLEA Joint Task Force 
(JTF) as the linchpin of our strategy focusing on important 
barons and large shipments.  Giade understood the gravity of 
the certification process and agreed to schedule meetings to 
develop operational plans, including the reestablishment of 
the JTF.  End summary. 
 
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RECERTIFICATION DEPENDS ON QUICK PLANNING AND PROGRESS 
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¶2.  (C) During a December 22 meeting, Consul General and DEA 
Attach met the new Chairman of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade. 
Consul General and DEA Attach emphasized that soon the 
annual drug certification process would be in gear.  However, 
half an operational year had elapsed without any notable 
achievements on the counternarcotics front.  Thus, Nigeria 
and the NDLEA were in the position of playing catch-up.  Much 
work needed to be done if Nigeria was to be seriously 
considered a candidate for recertification, they stressed. 
Consul General explained that Giade's predecessor mistakenly 
likened the process to a bank account in which a past act 
could gain one future interest.  The recently ousted Dr. 
Lafiaji somehow erroneously believed what the NDLEA might 
have done years ago should figure prominently in our 
certification evaluation for future years.  Instead, the 
Consul General expressed, certification was more like a 
report card.  Good results and progress one year do not carry 
over to the next year; instead, every year sets a baseline 
against which the succeeding year is judged. 
 
¶3.  (C) The Consul General stressed that the NDLEA and DEA 
quickly develop a six-month plan of action that would be the 
roadmap enabling Nigeria to make up for the months already 
squandered this year.  He remarked it was imperative that DEA 
and NDLEA coordinate to dismantle drug networks and prosecute 
their architects.  He cautioned Giade not to pursue the 
definitional battle his predecessor had waged with us over 
the definition of a major trafficker.  We defined a "major 
trafficker" as one who controls operations and/or finances of 
a drug organization but NDLEA labeled couriers caught with 
relatively large amounts of drugs (in comparison to other 
couriers apprehended) as major traffickers.  Consul General 
said we must resolve the definitional confusion.  At bottom 
the drug organizations must be studied to determine the 
leaders and it is these people who must be targeted and 
apprehended.  Giade agreed, stating a common understanding of 
the targets should be easily reached, and then the emphasis 
would be correctly placed on operational coordination.  DEA 
Attach pointed out targeting and investigating the key 
players in some of the leading organizations should not take 
much time because some of these people and organizations are 
well known to the NDLEA.  Others it would take more time to 
investigate 
 
¶4.  (C) The Consul General and DEA Attach also highlighted 
the need to target large drug shipments.  DEA Attach told 
Giade that Nigeria had not made a significant seizure in 
years.  However, we were seeing a growing body of evidence 
that large shipments were indeed transshipping Nigeria.  We 
also stressed that the JTF should be reconstituted soonest as 
the main and most effective fulcrum of our strategic goal to 
arrest leaders of drug networks and to halt large shipments. 
 
¶5.  (C) Given the need to move ahead quickly, the Consul 
General suggested the JTF meet as soon as possible to reach 
agreement on definitions and appropriate targets, and develop 
the operational plan for the next three to six months.  This 
way, the NDLEA can get into full operational swing right at 
the start of the new year, the Consul General offered. 
Chairman Giade agreed to this suggestion and said he would 
organize the meeting as soon as he could. 
 
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INL FUNDING AVAILABLE; REGIONAL COOPERATION, STIFFER 
SANCTIONS, BETTER PORT PERFORMANCE ALSO NEEDED 
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¶6.  (C) As part of the effort to dismantle drug 
organizations, the Attach espoused that NDLEA become more 
active in the seizure of bank accounts and assets.  Chairman 
Giade agreed with the efficacy of this action, which creates 
an even greater deterrent to dissuade potential traffickers. 
 
¶7.  (C) DEA Attach said more work needed to be done at 
Nigeria's airports and seaports.  Although many of the 
couriers have been arrested at Murtala Muhammed International 
Airport, enforcement at other airports and the seaports 
needed to be strengthened.  The seaports currently represent 
a significant lapse in the NDLEA enforcement efforts.  While 
searching every container at the seaports is prohibitive, the 
NDLEA could target containers from specific source countries, 
he advised. 
 
¶8.  (C) DEA Attach also discussed the need to properly use 
current INL funding for equipment and training.  Giade 
thanked USG for the assistance provided. 
 
¶9.  (C) DEA Attach gave a brief overview of the West Africa 
Joint Operations (WAJO) organization, comprised of drug law 
enforcement agencies throughout West Africa.  WAJO holds an 
annual conference and facilitates relations among West 
African drug law enforcement agencies in order to stage 
effective cooperative regional anti-drug operations.  WAJO 
was a positive accomplishment of former Chairman Lafiaji. 
 
¶10.  (C) DEA Attach concluded by stating DEA activity would 
be in coordination with the NDLEA.  He assured Chairman Giade 
that any problems or issues that arose would be communicated 
to him immediately, so they could be resolved quickly. 
 
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CHAIRMAN GIADE RECEPTIVE AND ENCOURAGING 
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¶11.  (C) The new chairman said he had talked to President 
Obasanjo face-to-face before taking the assignment.  The 
President had made him aware of the Agency's recent 
shortcomings, he commented.  Giade agreed that many drug 
barons were already known and that none were untouchable. 
Alluding to his predecessor's malafides - "I don't know why 
but for some reason, barons were not gone after but I promise 
we will," Giade said.  He added that cooperation between DEA 
and NDLEA under his watch would be "the best it has ever 
been." 
 
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CONTROLLED DELIVERY PLANNED ON SHIPMENT FROM URUGUAY 
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¶12.  (C) DEA shared information about a drug shipment 
destined for Anambra State and requested coordination with 
NDLEA for a controlled delivery, to which Giade immediately 
agreed, summoning the JTF commander to begin working out an 
operational plan. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶13.  (C) This was an encouraging first meeting with the new 
NDLEA Chairman.  Giade appears sincere in his desire to 
coordinate with us, and make some actual progress against the 
drug traffickers and their illicit vocation.  In short, we 
extended the hand of cooperation to him and he reciprocated. 
Now, let's see if he will maintain hold.  End comment. 
BROWNE