VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNM #0021/01 0110714
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110714Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5560
INFO RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0494
RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 8672
RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT 2497
RHMFIUU/MCESG QUANTICO VA

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000021 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/SPC/WMD, AF/W, AF/RSA, AND AF/EX 
BAMAKO - FOR REGIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER 
OUAGADOUGOU - FOR RSO OFFICE 
FRANKFURT - FOR CO MSG REGION 7 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ADPM AMED AMGT ASEC KMSG TBIO
SUBJECT: CLASSIFIED POUCH - SUSPICIOUS POWDER INCIDENT 
 
REF: RSO NIAMEY SPOT REPORT DATED 01/06/2010 
 
¶1. (SBU)  On the morning of January 6, Post had an incident 
relating to a classified pouch bag and a suspicious powder 
inside it.  The Information Management Specialist (IMS) 
informed the Marine at Post 1 that an incident occurred in 
the IPC.  The IMS stated that after verifying the classified 
pouch seal and ID tag, she opened the pouch and at this 
moment, a suspicious powder was released.  The IMS officer 
immediately sealed the class pouch inside a clear plastic 
trash bag and then washed her face and hands that were 
exposed to the powder.  The Marine notified the RSO, who then 
directed Post 1 to react the Marines for a possible powder 
incident.  The RSO instructed Post 1 to immediately 
isolate/quarantine the IPC area.  RSO spoke to IMS to receive 
all pertinent information and instructed her to immediately 
contact Frankfurt to verify the contents of the pouch.  RSO 
spoke to the DCM to advise him of a possible suspicious 
powder incident and to isolate the area of the incident.  DCM 
agreed that all personnel should remain in their offices with 
the doors closed until the situation was resolved.  The 
Marines then executed all protocol procedures for a 
suspicious powder incident.  In full chemical/biological 
gear, two Marines moved the sealed pouch to the stand-alone 
mail screening facility on the Chancery grounds.  Under 
supervision of the RSO and MSG Detachment Commander, the two 
Marines collected two samples of the substance and identified 
that there was one package in the pouch addressed to Post's 
Health Unit.  RSO contacted the Nurse, who confirmed that she 
was expecting a package from the addressee.  She added that 
there was nothing in the package that should cause a powder 
substance to appear.  One Marine identified an approximate 
two-inch hole in the bottom of the class pouch bag.  The 
Marines then decontaminated the entire mail facility, pouch, 
package and then themselves.  The class pouch, sample 
collection tool and plastic bag (original sealing bag) were 
placed in a plastic trash can that was filled with a strong 
bleach-to-water ratio solution, to soak and decontaminate. 
All possible contaminated items were placed in plastic bags, 
sealed and then placed in another plastic bag, which was 
sealed also.  Two other Marines, in full chemical/biological 
gear, moved to the IPC and conducted decontamination 
procedures for the areas that may have been exposed to the 
substance.  The RSO instructed the IMS to conduct personal 
decontamination procedures in a bathroom next to the IPC; all 
of her clothing was then sealed in a trashbag.  Upon 
completion of decontamination efforts, all possible 
contaminated clothing and gear, including the two Marines' 
gear, were sealed in trashbags and moved to the stand-alone 
screening facility. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  The following is a detailed timeline of the events 
that occurred: 
 
10:10am - IMS calls Post 1 Marine to notify of a possible 
suspicious powder incident in a classified pouch bag. 
10:11am - MSG Detachment begins react procedures.  MSGs are 
already in the Chancery due to weekly MSG Guard School. 
10:12am - Post 1 informs RSO of incident, who is off compound 
but returning to the Chancery. RSO advises Post 1 to 
quarantine the suspected contaminated area. 
10:13am - Post 1 contacts Nurse in Health Unit to advise her 
of the situation.  MSGs contact GSO supply to get additional 
decontamination supplies. 
10:20am - RSO speaks to IMS to gain all relevant information 
and to make an assessment of the situation. 
10:25am - RSO reacts Marine MSG Team Alpha (two-man team) to 
don full chemical/biological gear. 
10:26am - RSO informs Front Office of the situation. 
10:40am - MSG Team Alpha is fully suited and ready to begin 
operations.  RSO begins securing the route for the package to 
be moved out of the Chancery.  MSG Team Bravo moves to 
stand-alone mailing facility to open it and prepare for MSG 
Team Alpha arrival. 
10:45am - MSG Team Alpha and RSO move to IPC to get the 
sealed class pouch with suspicious powder in it. 
10:50am - MSG Team Alpha, RSO and Detachment Commander arrive 
at stand-alone mailing facility. 
10:52am - RSO notifies DS Command Center (DSCC) of the 
on-going incident and requests that DSCC contact State Ops, 
MED, DS/WMD and the CDC and inform them of the incident. 
11:00am - MSG Team Alpha begins collecting samples. 
11:20am - MSG Team Alpha completes sample collection and 
begins decontamination procedures. 
11:25am - RSO instructs MSG Team Bravo (two-man team) to 
begin donning full chemical/biological gear. 
11:40am - MSG Team Bravo reports to RSO that it is suited-up 
and ready for operations. 
11:42am - MSG Team Alpha completes all decontamination 
procedures and stands down. 
11:45am - MSG Team Bravo and RSO move to IPC area to begin 
the decontamination process. 
11:46am - The RSO instructs IMS to conduct personal 
decontamination procedures in a bathroom next to the IPC. 
12:10am - MSG Team Bravo completes all decontamination 
procedures and stands down. 
12:10am - RSO announces the all-clear.  RSO contacts DSCC to 
inform them that the incident is over and the all-clear has 
been given. 
12:15am - IMS and MSG Team Alpha and Bravo report to Post's 
Health Unit to be examined and receive medication for 
possible exposure to chemical-biological agents. 
 
¶3. (SBU)  After Action Items: 
 
(a)  RSO in coordination with DS/WMD and CDC, has shipped 
samples of the substance to be tested by CDC. 
(b)  Post's Health Unit conducted a Power Point presentation 
regarding anthrax and other chemical/biological agents with 
all Marines, IMS and the mailroom clerks. 
(c)  Nurse is monitoring the health of the IMS and all 
Marines who may have been exposed and who are currently 
taking Cipro as a precautionary measure. 
(d)  RSO will provide CDC results to all relevant entities. 
(e)  RSO will conduct a lessons-learned meeting with the 
Marines, Nurse and IMS to review Post's procedures and 
improve any needed areas. 
 
¶4. (U)  Any questions regarding this incident can be directed 
to RSO Nicholas Brashich. 
ALLEN