US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1264

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001264 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO DEA FOR OI, OEE, AND NTRE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2014 
TAGS: SNAR, PREL, NI 
SUBJECT: DRUG AGENCY TOUTS SUCCESS, BURNS NARCOTICS 
 
 
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reasons 1.4 B and D 
 
1.  (U) The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), 
Lagos State Command, and Murtala Muhammed International 
Airport (MMIA) Special Area Command hosted a destruction of 
illegal drugs on August 4.  Almost 11.3 tons (11,469 
kilograms) were set ablaze, including 139 Kg of cocaine, 78 
Kg of heroine, 9,151 Kg of cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp), and 
17 Kg of other psychotropics.  (This brings the total amount 
of seized drugs destroyed throughout the country over the 
last 5 years to 93.5 tons.) 
 
2.  (U) In his address to the gathering, NDLEA Chairman Bello 
Lafiagi declared the continued seizures of illegal substances 
were "clear proof" of the NDLEA's efficacy in stemming 
illegal drug trafficking.  However, he also stressed the 
fight against drug trafficking would be a long one; he used 
the occasion to request continued support from Nigerian 
society.  The Chairman also acknowledged support from 
international collaborators, including the UN Office for 
Drugs and Crimes, the US DEA, the British Customs Service, 
the German BKA, and the South African Police, in particular. 
 
3.  (C) Comment:  The seizure and destruction of the drugs 
are commendable.  However, this highly publicized event does 
not make amends for the continuing gaps in Nigeria's 
anti-narcotics regimen.  Several senior NDLEA officials 
acknowledge the need to more vigorously target key players in 
trafficking organizations.  MMIA Special Area Commander 
Abdullah Abubakar Danburam highlighted the difficulty of 
penetrating the multiple layers of a drug organization and of 
going beyond the low-level couriers to getting the real 
architects of these networks.  Toward this objective, DEA 
will be encouraging the NDLEA to agree to revive the joint 
DEA-NDLEA task force, which had some investigative success in 
the mid-90's, in order to increase cooperation between the 
two organizations and to serve as the primary mechanism for 
operations against key traffickers.  End comment. 
BROWNE