VZCZCXRO8716
PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPA RUEHPW
DE RUEHDK #2477 2861256
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 131356Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6570
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0131
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0141
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0019
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNA/DEA HQS WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0772

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAKAR 002477 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR S/CT, INL, G/TIP, AF/RSA AND AF/W 
LAGOS FOR DEA 
PARIS FOR POL - D'ELIA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016 
TAGS: PTER SNAR CVIS SMIG KCRM KISL PU SG
SUBJECT: SENEGAL: G8 COUNTER-TERRORISM ACTION GROUP FOCUSES 
ON CLANDESTINE MIGRATION AND DRUG TRAFFICKING 
 
REF: DAKAR 1034 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Beth A. Payne for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The October 10 G8 Counter-Terrorism Action 
Group (CTAG) meeting focused on the recent wave of 
clandestine migrants from Senegal to the Canary Islands, 
rather than ideological extremism. The UN Office on Drugs 
and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA) 
both participated again and continued to stress the possible 
links between terrorism, narcotics trafficking and 
clandestine migration. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) On October 10, the Russian Embassy convened the G8's 
Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTAG). All G8 countries as 
well as Spain were present at the two hour meeting. The 
European Union, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the 
UN Office for West Africa (UNOWA) also participated. The 
ADCM and RSO represented the USG. 
 
¶3. (C) After a general opening by the Russian Embassy, the 
discussion quickly turned to the increase in clandestine 
migrants traveling by boat from Senegal to the Canary 
Islands. The newly arrived Spanish political officer, 
Francisco Javier Nievas Garcia, confirmed reports that in 
September there were approximately 27,000 illegal migrants 
primarily from West Africa in the Canary Islands. Hans-Peter 
Schadek, Chief of Operations and Cooperation with the 
European Union (EU) Delegation to Senegal, reported that the 
EU is financing a six month project to assist the GOS conduct 
surveillance of the coast of Senegal, using Spanish boats and 
a helicopter. Italy is also providing a plane for 
surveillance. The French are providing support to the 
Senegalese police and Gendarmerie for border control. 
 
¶4. (C) Amado Philip de Andres, the UNODC Deputy 
Representative, noted that clandestine migration from Africa 
to Europe is not new; instead, the preferred routes have 
shifted as countries such as Mali and Mauritania made 
previous routes more difficult for smugglers. In fact, as 
the GOS has become more effective at monitoring its waters 
and arresting smugglers, the route is already shifting to 
Guinea-Bissau. UNODC reported that smugglers range from 
local fishermen who usually provide food and transport only 
to the Canary Islands, to well organized criminal enterprises 
that provide a more complete package to illegal migrants, 
including false papers upon arrival in Europe. He reported 
that migrants are from throughout West Africa, giving one 
example of several Nigerians and Liberians who recently 
arrived in Cape Verde holding Bissau-Guinean passports. 
 
¶5. (C) Participants were particularly concerned about 
reports that the GOS recently arrested 100 Pakistanis in 
Senegal who were en route to Europe using the popular sea 
route. According to UNODC, South Asian smuggling 
organizations are the most organized in West Africa. While 
they have not yet identified any terrorist threats among 
illegal migrants from South Asian, it would be easy for 
terrorists to slip into these groups undetected. There was 
also concern that the same criminal enterprises that smuggle 
narcotics and migrants would assist terrorist elements for 
financial gain. 
 
¶6. (C) COMMENT: It is clear the Europeans are much more 
concerned about terrorists benefiting from criminal smuggling 
enterprises than local popular support for extremist 
ideologies. As a result, they have made assistance to the 
GOS to better control borders and combat criminal enterprises 
a priority in their counter-terrorism efforts. Given strong 
public criticism of the GOS for supporting repatriation of 
thousands of Senegalese in recent weeks from the Canary 
Islands, President Wade may find stronger border controls and 
more rigorous enforcement efforts a liability in the February 
2007 elections. END COMMENT. 
JACKSON