US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1530

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 001530 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
STATE FOR INL 
DEA FOR OI, OEE, OSE 
POST FOR DEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, NI, SNAR 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA DEA ATTACHE PRESSES FOR COORDINATION AT 
WEST AFRICAN JOINT GATHERING 
 
REF: COTONOU 888 
 
Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reason 1.4 (D) 
 
1.  (U) Participants gave high marks to the fifth annual West 
African Joint Operations (WAJO) conference held in Cotonou, 
Benin on September 7 and 8 (reftel). 
 
2.  (C) DEA received positive responses from Benin, Ghana, 
The Gambia and Togo about forming joint task forces between 
DEA and their representative national drug law enforcement 
organizations.  The joint task force concept will establish a 
more structured operating relationship between host country 
forces and DEA.  In the mid-1990's, DEA established a joint 
task force with the Nigerian drug enforcement agency.  That 
task force recorded some modest success but later fell into 
disuse.  We are also in discussions with the NDLEA to revive 
that original task force.  These bilateral arrangements 
foster closer working relationships and accountability, and 
also should promote the secure exchange of sensitive 
operational intelligence. 
 
3.  (C) DEA's message to WAJO was clear:  resources are 
available to support operations against significant 
trafficking targets.  Member countries must target major 
trafficking organizations, with operations in multiple WAJO 
countries or significant operations in a single country.  If 
credible targets and intelligence are identified, DEA will 
provide support, including funding, for operations against 
the target. 
 
4.  (C) Comment:  Growing participation and attendance at the 
latest WAJO conference is encouraging, but the organization's 
success must be measured by tangible results.  Much of the 
discussion at this year's event focused on old cases (one 
port seizure occurring over twelve years ago).  These 
discussions have some precedential value for coordination and 
communication between member country law enforcement 
agencies, but the continued re-hash of old successes does 
little to ensure current or future achievement.  DEA is 
committed to establishing joint task forces with the 
abovementioned additional WAJO countries in an attempt to 
strengthen operational relationships and help members make 
additional progress.  The future success of these efforts 
will be a key indicator of WAJO's value to us as an 
operational organization.  End comment. 
BROWNE