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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000726 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEA HQS FOR OC,OI,OID,OEE, OSE 
SECSTATE FOR INL/AF/W,INR/AA,AF/RSA,DS/IP/ITA 
ROME FOR RD BENSON ARD PASQUARELLO 
HAGUE FOR A/ARD BOOBAR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2015 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR PTER ASEC NI PU NARCOTICS
SUBJECT: DEA VISIT TO GUINEA BISSAU 
 
 
Classified By: DEA CA SAM GAYE FOR REASONS 1.4 (D AND E) 
 
   SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1.  (C) DEA CA Sam Gaye visited Guinea-Bissau, May 18-19, 
¶2006.  The purpose of the visit was to meet Bissau-Guinean 
counter-narcotics officials to discuss trafficking trends, 
share intelligence, and provide the Judicial Police (PJ) with 
drug test kits.  The PJ pleaded for more resources.  The 
Attorney General (AG) asked for help from the international 
community to fight drug trafficking through Guinea-Bissau, 
acknowledging that Guinea-Bissau has become a major transit 
point for cocaine to Europe.  CA Gaye informed the AG the 
UNODC office in Dakar, Senegal, is aware of the threat 
cocaine trafficking poses to Europe and UNODC plans to do an 
assessment of the drug situation in Guinea-Bissau. 
Meanwhile, CA Gaye advised the AG that DEA will engage the PJ 
operationally, starting with investigating allegations of a 
clandestine cocaine-processing laboratory run by Colombians 
in Guinea-Bissau.  CA Gaye told the AG that DEA is interested 
in verifying claims the Colombians, along with some former 
police officials, are constructing clandestine airstrips in 
remote villages in Guinea-Bissau.  END SUMMARY. 
 
THE PJ SAYS IT LACKS RESOURCES TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
¶2.  (C) On May 19,2006, CA Gaye met Orlando Artur Antonio La 
Silva, Director General of Judicial Police (the equivalent of 
the FBI).  CA Gaye had visited Director La Silva during his 
previous trip early this year.  La Silva explained his agency 
lacks the resources needed to fight drug trafficking in 
Guinea-Bissau.  The PJ cannot respond to information 
regarding suspicious vessels or aircraft due to insufficient 
logistical support.  The Director said Colombians and 
Lebanese nationals control drug trafficking in the area.  The 
Director cited a recent incident where a local police 
commander in Guinea lent his vehicle to Lebanese traffickers 
to drive to Guinea-Bissau to pick up a drug shipment.  The 
commander reportedly provided the Lebanese traffickers with a 
letter requesting free passage at checkpoints. 
 
¶3.  (C) The PJ's annual investigative budget for all major 
crimes, including counter narcotics, is 6 million CFA francs 
(CFAF)(USD 11,500.00).  The Director said after CA Gaye's 
visit early this year, the Prime Minister's office created a 
joint task force (JTF) to address the growing drug problem in 
Guinea-Bissau.  According to Director La Silva, the JTF is 
just a "document" with no real institutional vitality. 
 
¶4.  (C) Director La Silva asked CA Gaye for Embassy Dakar to 
continue to raise the seriousness of the drug situation with 
senior government officials, including the President.  CA 
Gaye told La Silva that Ambassador Jacobs in Dakar is 
concerned about the increase of drug trafficking through 
Guinea-Bissau and the impact it may have on the fragile 
democracy.  The Director added the international community 
needs to help Guinea-Bissau, and at the same time, put 
pressure on the country's leadership to do its part.  The 
Director claimed that high-ranking military officers as well 
as senior government officials are involved in drug 
trafficking.  The Director stated the military has "big guns" 
and more clout than the PJ.  He said that the Government is 
reluctant to move against senior military figures for fear 
that they may foment a military coup and seize power again. 
 
NO EVIDENCE OF NEXUS WITH TERRORISTS 
------------------------------------ 
¶5.  (C) La Silva said there was no evidence of a drug nexus 
with terrorism in Guinea-Bissau, although he did not rule out 
the possibility.  However, he confirmed that, periodically, 
he received terrorist listings, including information on 
frozen bank accounts, from Interpol.  He commented that both 
the borders and financial system in Guinea-Bissau are porous, 
so "anything is possible". 
 
DRUG TEST KITS AS SYMBOL OF COOPERATION 
--------------------------------------- 
¶6.  (C) CA Gaye provided the PJ with drug test kits and 
training on the use of drug test kits.  The PJ had not used 
drug test kits before and were excited about their new tools. 
 The chief said the equipment was a symbolic gesture of 
cooperation.  They can now field-test suspicious substances, 
something never done before. 
 
¶7.  (C) Director La Silva informed CA Gaye that the four 
Nigerians arrested in December 2005 were still being held. 
However, one of them became paralyzed and is now 
hospitalized.  (COMMENT: Guinea-Bissau has no maximum 
security prison.  END COMMENT.) 
 
ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKS FOR INTERNATIONAL HELP 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶8.  (C) On May 19, CA Gaye met Fernando Riberro, 
Guinea-Bissau's Attorney General (AG), and his deputy.  The 
AG is new in his position.  CA Gaye provided an overview of 
drug trafficking trends in the region.  The AG asked for help 
from the international community to fight drug trafficking 
through Guinea-Bissau.  The AG stated few of his countrymen 
can afford to buy drugs, but his country has become a major 
transit point for cocaine to Europe.  CA Gaye informed the AG 
the UNODC office in Dakar, Senegal, is aware of the threat 
cocaine trafficking poses to Europe and UNODC plans to do an 
assessment of the drug situation in Guinea-Bissau. 
Meanwhile, CA Gaye advised the AG that DEA will engage the PJ 
operationally, starting with investigating allegations of a 
clandestine cocaine-processing laboratory run by Colombians 
in Guinea-Bissau.  CA Gaye told the AG that DEA is interested 
in verifying claims the Colombians, along with some former 
police officials, are constructing clandestine airstrips in 
remote villages in Guinea-Bissau.  The AG reiterated his 
government's full cooperation on counter narcotics. 
 
BROWNE