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RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0866/01 3100855
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 060855Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5433
INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1692
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NIAMEY 000866 
 
DEPT FOR INL, AF/W AND AF/RSA; PLS PASS TO USAID/AFR/W 
ACCRA ALSO FOR USAID/WA 
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PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PGOV KDEM SOCI PHUM PREL NG
SUBJECT:  Niger: Counter-Narcotics Strategy 
 
Ref:  a) State 105731   b) 08 Niamey 631 
 
¶1. Summary:  Niger, while not a drug producing country or a 
significant consumer market for narcotics, should be characterized 
as a "developing" transit point for narcotics en route to North 
Africa and Europe.  Mindful of the potential for increased drug 
trade, the Government of Niger (GON) has taken steps to combat 
illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, 
creating institutions and drafting legislation to confront this 
growing problem.  Niger-U.S. cooperation on combating illicit 
trafficking of narcotics is lacking.  Minimal law enforcement 
coordination, coupled with insufficient technical expertise and 
resources, contributes to Niger's place as a transit point for drugs 
primarily destined to other countries.  End summary. 
 
Vast Desert Land Limits Policing 
-------------------------------- 
¶2. Niger is an inland, land-locked country located in the heart of 
the Sahel and Sahara Desert with an area of which over 2/3 is 
desert.  Niger's borders are remote, poorly marked, and difficult to 
monitor, facilitating transit of illegal goods.  Neighboring 
countries include:  Algeria (border of 956 km) to the north, Libya 
(354 km) to the northeast,  Chad (1175 km) to the east,  Nigeria 
(1497 km) and Benin (266 km) to the south, and Burkina Faso (628 km) 
and Mali (821 km) to the west. 
 
¶3. Niger's poor to absent border control, vast desert, and pivotal 
position between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa makes it easily 
penetrable for drug traffickers.  According to Nigerien law 
enforcement contacts, the National Police detected major organized 
drug trafficking in the northern region of Agadez in February 2007, 
but it is likely this phenomenon dates back to the early 1990's when 
Niger first passed legislation to address the problem. 
 
Variety of Drugs Transit through Niger 
-------------------------------------- 
¶4. Nigerien officials report that 1,449 kilograms of herbal cannabis 
and 54 kilograms of cannabis resin were seized by defense and 
security forces in 2008.  During the same period 405,299 tablets of 
psychotropic substances were seized.  Seizures of cocaine and heroin 
were reported as 105 kilograms and 2 kilograms, respectively. (Note: 
 According to the GON law enforcement officials, the majority of 
cocaine and heroin come from Nigeria.  End note.) 
 
¶5. On June 26, 2008, in commemoration of the International Day in 
the Fight Against Narcotics Abuse and Trafficking, the GON Minister 
of Justice (MOJ) presided over a incineration ceremony of seized 
narcotics (ref b), to which the diplomatic corps was invited.  The 
MOJ provided in his remarks the following figures for drug seizures 
for the period November 2006 - October 2007: 
 
-- 6831 kilograms of cannabis resin 
-- 847,570 kilograms of cannabis leaves 
-- 34,456 kilograms of cocaine 
-- 388,193 tablets made from diverse psychotropic substances. 
 
¶6. In 2008, GON authorities arrested 498 persons for the possession 
of illegal drugs.  Of this number, 458 were Nigeriens and, among the 
40 foreigners, 39 individuals were from eight different West African 
countries and one individual was from a Central America nation. 
 
¶7. According to the Anti-Drug Trafficking Office, trafficking has 
fueled increasing domestic drug consumption; a significant amount of 
cannabis herb is consumed locally.  Authorities do not believe the 
size or influence of narcotics traffickers is growing in Niger. 
Cannabis resin is believed to be a product that is transited through 
the northern part of Niger for destination countries bordering the 
North and those of Europe.  Seizures of this substance typically 
occur in virtually uninhabited areas of northern Niger. 
 
Drug Flow/Transit 
----------------- 
¶8. GON officials report that narcotics arrive in Niger via land or 
river and rarely by air, most often hidden in a human body cavity, 
in luggage, or in vehicles.  Trafficking is also known to occur via 
motorcycles, carts, boats, or even pack animals (usually donkeys or 
camels).  Most transport requires transit of vast desert areas, and 
according to local authorities, trafficking of drugs is now being 
conducted via powerful, all-terrain 4x4 vehicles, moving in convoys 
at night without lights to avoid detection in the desert.  Although 
these areas virtually are unpopulated, traffickers also have a 
well-organized structure for refueling. 
 
¶9. There are increased reports of small, unmarked air strips 
 
NIAMEY 00000866  002 OF 003 
 
 
throughout the country.  Although these air strips have been 
purchased by wealthy businessmen to travel in and out of Niger, they 
are remote and unregulated. Nigerien authorities are unable to 
effectively police these remote air strips, consequently creating a 
potential shipping hub for drug traffickers. 
 
International Conventions, National Policy Initiatives 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
¶10. In 1993, Niger instituted a set of goals in a five-year plan to 
combat the then just developing drug trafficking problem.  These 
goals included:  increasing attention to domestic demand reduction; 
improving training and research facilities; creating regional 
commissions to better coordinate counternarcotics law enforcement; 
and developing the National Center for the Repression of Illicit 
Drug Trafficking.  Since then, Niger has taken considerable steps to 
accomplish many of these goals. 
 
¶11. Niger has signed and ratified the three major international 
conventions against drugs.  It has also ratified the UN Convention 
against Transnational Organized Crime, which was introduced in 2000. 
 Niger passed legislation that aims to combat drug trafficking. 
According to GON authorities, these steps help bring Niger into 
conformity with international conventions and norms.  Lastly, at an 
ECOWAS summit in 2008, Niger signed a political declaration and 
Regional Response Action Plan, agreeing to take steps against 
illicit drug trafficking and abuse. 
 
¶12. Niger has created an interdepartmental committee to develop and 
implement the national drug policy.  It established an agency 
responsible for the suppression of consumption and trafficking of 
illicit drugs and precursors, and constructed a drug analysis 
laboratory. 
 
¶13. In addition to state structures, according to GON officials, 
non-governmental organizations and members of civil society have 
been instrumental in efforts to curb drug trafficking.  The most 
active of these groups are the grassroots Nigerien Organization for 
the Development of Human Potential and the Organization to Fight 
against Trafficking and Consumption of Narcotics. 
 
Police and Armed Forces Lack Capacity 
------------------------------------- 
¶14. Two thirds of Niger is un-occupied desert, which limits Nigerien 
authorities' capacity to police the area effectively.  There is a 
serious penury of equipment and resources, including vehicles, fuel, 
air surveillance, and even dedicated manpower.  The office charged 
with combating the growing drug phenomenon has a small budget and 
staff; it has 20 officers stationed throughout the country.  The 
agency has three offices; one each in Niamey, Agadez, and Maradi. 
The agency intends to increase its interdiction efforts through 
seizures along the Nigerian border. 
 
¶15. The Gendarme and the National Forces for Intervention and 
Security (FNIS) have an anti-narcotics mission.  While not charged 
with a similar mission, the Armed Forces of Niger (FAN) have 
interdicted narco-traffickers in the course of military operations. 
The FAN often hands over the seized narcotics to the Gendarmes.  The 
lack of capacity is a problem for all three security services. 
 
USG-GON Counternarcotics Cooperation 
------------------------------------ 
¶16. The GON has no bilateral counternarcotics treaties with the U.S. 
Government; it does have several agreements with France and Nigeria. 
 The Director General (DG) of the National Police expressed 
disappointment at the lack of cooperation between the GON and the 
USG on this issue.  The DG mentioned that a representative from the 
DEA periodically visited Niger in the 1990s, but no such visits have 
occurred since.  (Note:  In 1994, the USG donated a computer with 
appropriate software to be used to track data and generate reports. 
End note.)  He did say, however, that in order to strengthen Niger's 
law enforcement capacity, to improve its interdiction capabilities, 
and to reduce Niger's role as a transit point for narcotics, that 
more cooperation with development partners is needed. 
 
The Way Forward 
--------------- 
¶17. The increase in numbers of arrests of drug traffickers by 
Nigerien authorities clearly indicates that drug trafficking is 
becoming a more serious problem and that the security authorities 
have begun to take necessary steps to combat the problem.  Combating 
illicit trafficking is a challenge for Nigerien law enforcement due 
to insufficient financial and technical resources necessary to 
enhance security measures and improve surveillance.  Despite the GON 
having passed anti-narcotics trafficking legislation, investment to 
 
NIAMEY 00000866  003 OF 003 
 
 
improve the effectiveness of the counter-narcotics office has been 
lacking.  Niger, ranked last in the most recent United Nations Human 
Development Index, cannot afford to succumb to the social burden 
imposed by the international drug trade.  In Niger, over 50 percent 
of the population is under the age of 15, and 70 percent is under 
the age of 27.  Narcotics not only threatens the socio-economic 
development of Niger, but also puts at risk the most productive 
element of society, its youth.  Youth are vulnerable to addiction to 
these illicit drugs, which would create problems of even greater 
proportions. 
 
Allen