VZCZCXRO9923
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHDK #1822/01 2491333
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 061333Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9142
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0255
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 0969
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0809
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 0431
RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 0472
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0720
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAKAR 001822 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W, AF/RSA, INL/AAE, INR 
ACCRA FOR USAID/WA 
PARIS FOR POL D'ELIA AND DEA 
DOJ FOR FBI AND DEA 
LAGOS FOR DEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2017 
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL PU
SUBJECT: GUINEA BISSAU: BIG DRUG ARRESTS SHOW POLICE 
WILLINGNESS 
 
REF: DAKAR 1751 
 
Classified By: Charge Jay T. Smith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
SUMMARY 
-------- 
¶1. (C) Recent police and military actions to fight drug 
trafficking have helped strengthen Guinea-Bissau's claims it 
wants to do more.  The former head of the Judicial Police 
(JP) credited U.S. pressure with forcing the GOGB to take 
action.  The new head of the JP appears to be an interested 
and capable partner, if not over her head.  In response, post 
has determined now is the time to provide material and moral 
support to the JP.  End Summary. 
 
NIGERIANS AND COLOMBIANS IN "JAIL" 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Post reported in reftel the GOGB was organizing itself 
to fight drug trafficking and now there is evidence that 
decision extends to the operational level as well.  Former JP 
Chief Orlando da Silva told Poloff August 28 the GOGB is 
surprised and frightened by the tough and persistent U.S. 
diplomatic pressure to fight drug trafficking and that is 
largely why new measures are being taken.  He cited a 
diplomatic note from post to the GOGB expressing concern over 
his firing and noting that our assistance is dependent upon 
reliable partners in the police.  The diplomatic note was 
leaked by a member of the GOGB and got wide press play in 
West Africa and Europe, a fact which da Silva said frankly 
and without exaggeration kept him alive.  Da Silva went on to 
say he believed Justice Minister Carmelita Pires and the new 
JP Chief Lucinda Barosa Aukharie are dedicated and competant, 
but they will receive no real help from the rest of the 
government. 
 
¶3. (C) The JP under Aukharie has conducted two counter-drug 
operations with little government support and no additional 
material.  Aukharie showed Poloff on August 28 five kilos of 
cocaine that was apprehended from a group of ten Nigerians on 
August 22, all of whom were in custody.  Some of the cocaine 
had been wrapped in capsules for swallowing.  In addition to 
the cocaine was small amounts of marijuana which Aukharie 
said is now being grown near the eastern city of Gabu.  She 
noted marijuana production was previously unknown in 
Guinea-Bissau and it was probably for local consumption, not 
export. 
 
¶4. (C) The second operation netted two Colombians who were 
arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.  No drugs were 
found in the buisiness where they were apprehended -- a 
construction company called SOMEC owned by Portuguese 
national Dr. Pedro Ortega.  However, ammunition, explosives, 
a pistol, an AK-47 rifle, 94,500 Euros, two luxury vehicles, 
and documents were seized in the August 18 raid.  Luis 
Fernando Arango Mejia (DPOB 3-10-69, Colombia) and Juan Pablo 
Rubio Camacho (DPOB 3-18-66, Bogota, Colombia) were 
apprehended and were being held at a JP holding cell despite 
pressure by some high-level government officials to release 
them.  A third, Mauricio Arango Mejia (DPOB 12-19-66 Buga 
Valle, Colombia) was said to be in Portugal even though his 
passport was found at the site.  JP provided photos and 
fingerprints to LEGATT who coordinated with Interpol to 
travel to Bissau September 1 to follow the case.  (NOTE: 
LEGATT reported Rubio was released immediately after his trip 
and Arango would likely be released soon). 
 
¶5. (C) Chief of the Armed Forces General Batista Tagme Na 
Waie is also getting on the anti-narcotics bandwagon.  He 
directed the seizure of 40 barrels of propeller airplane fuel 
from the airstrip on the island of Bubaque which he claimed 
was for refueling drug flights.  Thirty more empty barrels 
were found at the site that is also a commercial airstrip. 
He initiated the operation on his own and then was compelled 
to invite Judicial Police to participate after the Justice 
Minister argued the JP had primacy in the fight on drug 
trafficking.  No drugs or traffickers were apprehended. 
 
DAKAR 00001822  002 OF 002 
 
 
Tagme, who has allowed his staff and associates to traffic 
with impunity if not benefitted outright, followed this 
sudden reversal with a press statement on August 29 that he 
would shoot down any airplane suspected of trafficking drugs. 
 He said Star-2 surface-to-air missiles had already been set 
up all around the country, including the islands, and planes 
flying without proper authorization would be downed. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. (C) Agencies with counter-drug responsibilities (LEGATT, 
ODC, DAO, POL, RAO) met with Charge August 29 and decided now 
was the time to provide support to those in the JP whose 
performance have indicated they may be capable and credible 
partners.  The primary goals are to build organizational 
capacity and bolster their efforts by demonstrating U.S. 
commitment.  Post will provide a small package of requested 
assistance to the JP and monitor progress before providing 
more.  Partners in EUCOM and DEA will be instrumental in 
identifying potential resources. 
 
¶7. (C) Not all of the recent anti-drug bluster is to be 
believed: Navy Chief Jose Americo "Bubu" Na Tchuto was on the 
cover of a national newspaper in August saying he is fighting 
drug trafficking and Interior Minister Baciro Dabo also talks 
regularly about what he is doing to fight the scourge.  It is 
interesting, however, that even two of the best known 
kingpins feel the pressure to put up appearances.  Tagme's 
threat to shoot down planes may be bluster as well, but more 
likely it is a message to traffickers that they can no longer 
operate so brazenly. 
 
Visit Embassy Dakar's classified website at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/af/dakar. 
SMITH